The Western Renewables Link Environment Effects Statement.

The Western Renewables Link Environment Effects Statement (EES)

The Western Renewables Link is a proposed electricity transmission line that will carry renewable energy from western Victoria to homes and businesses across the state and into the National Electricity Market. As a significant proposed infrastructure development, the project is subject to an Environment Effects Statement process.

The Western Renewables Link EES was prepared in accordance with the Ministerial guidelines for the assessment of environmental effects under the Environment Effects Act 1978 (Vic) and scoping requirements issued by the Minister for Planning for the project. A draft Planning Scheme Amendment (PSA) was also prepared, in accordance with the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic).

The EES and the draft PSA GC209 for the proposed Western Renewables Link were available for public comment between Monday 30 June 2025 and 11.59pm Monday 25 August 2025, and whilst public exhibition is now closed, the documents remain accessible below.

The Environment Effects Statement (EES) describes the proposed project and its expected environmental effects, the process undertaken to develop the project, and how we propose to avoid, mitigate or manage environmental effects. The EES process is administered by the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) on behalf of Victoria’s Minister for Planning.

Further information on the EES public review process can be found on the Department of Transport and Planning website's Public review of an EES.

Post-Environment Effects Statement Exhibition

Following exhibition, the Inquiry and Advisory Committee (IAC) (appointed by the Minister for Planning) will hold a directions hearing on Monday 15 September 2025 to consider the arrangements and timetable for of the public hearing, which is scheduled to commence the week beginning Monday 27 October 2025.

At the public panel hearing the IAC will consider the exhibited EES and draft PSA, all submissions and evidence, the views of Traditional Owners and Registered Aboriginal Parties, and any other relevant information. Further information on the IAC and directions and panel hearings is available on the Engage Victoria website.

Engage Victoria

EES documents

View the EES chapters, technical reports and attachments below, or use a keyword search or search by topics of interest.

EES Summary Report

A short, plain English overview of the project and its potential impacts.

Summary Report

EES Chapters

There are nine introductory Chapters that provide an overview of the project rationale, legislative and approval requirements, assessment approach and the community and stakeholder engagement undertaken, and 21 technical chapters that provide an overview of the cultural, environmental, social, and economic impacts identified in the technical reports.

Foreword
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Glossary and abbreviations
Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. Project rationale
Chapter 3. Legislative framework and approval requirements
Chapter 4. EES assessment framework and approach
Chapter 5. Project development
Chapter 6. Project description
Chapter 7. Community and stakeholder engagement
Chapter 8. Biodiversity and habitat
Chapter 9. Aboriginal cultural heritage
Chapter 10. Historical heritage
Chapter 11. Landscape and visual
Chapter 12. Land use and planning
Chapter 13. Bushfire
Chapter 14. Economic
Chapter 15. Agriculture and forestry
Chapter 16. Aviation
Chapter 17. Electromagnetic interference and electric and magnetic field (EMI and EMF)
Chapter 18. Air quality
Chapter 19. Noise and vibration
Chapter 20. Transport
Chapter 21. Social
Chapter 22. Geology and soils
Chapter 23. Contaminated land
Chapter 24. Groundwater
Chapter 25. Surface water
Chapter 26. Greenhouse gas
Chapter 27. Matters of National Environmental Significance
Chapter 28. Climate change
Chapter 29. Environmental Management Framework
Chapter 30. Conclusion

Technical Reports

The 20 technical reports contain detailed information about the study method used for each of the study topics. These in-depth impact assessments have been prepared by specialists on topics like biodiversity, heritage, noise, traffic, and agriculture.

To make downloading easier and more accessible, especially for users with limited bandwidth, we offer both the full file and smaller segmented parts for large documents so you can choose what works best for your connection and needs.

Technical Report A Biodiversity Impact Assessment
Part 1 (PDF 29MB)  |  Part 2 (PDF 26MB)  |  Part 3 (PDF 31MB)  |  Part 4 (PDF 30MB)  |  Part 5 (PDF 38MB)  |  Part 6 (PDF 26MB)  |  Part 7 (PDF 16MB)  |  Part 8 (PDF 35MB)  |  Part 9 (PDF 24MB)  |  Part 10 (PDF 6MB)
Technical Report B Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment
Part 1 (PDF 11MB)  |  Part 2 (PDF 16MB)  |  Part 3 (PDF 15MB)  |  Part 4 (PDF 22MB)
Technical Report C Historical Heritage Impact Assessment
Part 1 (PDF 6MB)  |  Part 2 (PDF 27MB)  |  Part 3 (PDF 17MB)  |  Part 4 (PDF 16MB)  |  Part 5 (PDF 16MB)  |  Part 6 (PDF 16MB)  |  Part 7 (PDF 18MB)
Technical Report D Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment
Part 1 (PDF 45MB)  |  Part 2 (PDF 49MB)  |  Part 3 (PDF 46MB)  |  Part 4 (PDF 34MB)  |  Part 5 (PDF 35MB)  |  Part 6 (PDF 40MB)  |  Part 7 (PDF 27MB)  |  Part 8 (PDF 41MB)  |  Part 9 (PDF 19MB)  |  Part 10 (PDF 41MB)  |  Part 11 (PDF 41MB)  |  Part 12 (PDF 41MB)  |  Part 13 (PDF 34MB)  |  Part 14 (PDF 42MB)  |  Part 15 (PDF 32MB)
Technical Report E Land Use and Planning Impact Assessment
Part 1 (PDF 11MB)  |  Part 2 (PDF 16MB)  |  Part 3 (PDF 16MB)  |  Part 4 (PDF 25MB)  |  Part 5 (PDF 15MB)
Technical Repoort F Social Impact Assessment
Technical Report G Economic Impact Assessment
Technical Report H Agriculture and Forestry Impact Assessment
Technical Report I Air Quality Impact Assessment
Technical Report J Aviation Impact Assessment
Technical Report K Bushfire Impact Assessment
Part 1 (PDF 13MB)  |  Part 2 (PDF 23MB)
Technical Report L EMI and EMF Impact Assessment
Technical Report M Greenhouse Gas Impact Assessment
Technical Report N Climate Change Assessment
Technical Report O Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment
Part 1 (PDF 18MB)  |  Part 2 (PDF 21MB)
Technical Report P Transport Impact Assessment
Part 1 (PDF 10MB)  |  Part 2 (PDF 19MB)  |  Part 3 (PDF 20MB)  |  Part 4 (PDF 23MB)  |  Part 5 (PDF 21MB)  |  Part 6 (PDF 19MB)  |  Part 7 (PDF 20MB)
Technical Report Q Geology and Soils Impact Assessment
Part 1 (PDF 18MB)  |  Part 2 (PDF 19MB)  |  Part 3 (PDF 8MB)
Technical Report R Contaminated Land Impact Assessment
Part 1 (PDF 14MB)  |  Part 2 (PDF 13MB)  |  Part 3 (PDF 16MB)  |  Part 4 (PDF 18MB)  |  Part 5 (PDF 1MB)
Technical Report S Groundwater Impact Assessment
Technical Report T Surface Water Impact Assessment
Part 1 (PDF 11MB)  |  Part 2 (PDF 26MB)

Attachments

Attachment I Project development and assessment of alternatives
Part 1 (PDF 25MB)  |  Part 2 (PDF 8MB)
Attachment II Assessment of feasibility for an underground 500kV transmission line for Western Renewables Link
Attachment III Draft Planning Scheme Amendment
Part 1 (PDF 10MB)  |  Part 2 (PDF 15MB)
Attachment IV Stakeholder and community engagement consultation report
Attachment V Draft offset management strategy
Attachment VI Map book

Peer Review Reports & Project Updates

View peer review reports and additional information relevant to the Western Renewables Link Environment Effects Statement (EES) and updates on the Western Renewables Link Project.

Peer reviews / additional information

Navigating the EES

To help you to understand our EES, find the information that’s important to you, and learn about the submission process and next steps, we recommend you read our guide to Navigating the EES or view our Understanding the Western Renewables Link Environment Effects Statement video.

EES fact sheets

We have prepared fact sheets that cover EES impact assessments to help you access the information that matters to you. They include insight into the impacts and risks that were identified, the assessment findings and the ways in which we propose to avoid or minimise impacts.  

View the fact sheets on our Resources page.

EES facetsheets

Public comment

The Environment Effects Statement (EES) and the draft Planning Scheme Amendment (PSA) GC209 for the proposed Western Renewables Link were available for public comment between Monday 30 June 2025 and 11.59pm Monday 25 August 2025.

The submission process is independently managed by Planning Panels Victoria (PPV). You can view submissions and further information at the Engage Victoria website. 

Engage Victoria

EES Interactive map

Explore our interactive EES web map to view the Western Renewables Link project’s proposed project alignment, key features and virtual imagery of public locations along the route.

View map

Next steps

The Victorian Minister for Planning has appointed an independent Inquiry and Advisory Committee (IAC) to conduct a public hearing. The IAC will review the exhibited EES and draft PSA, all submissions and evidence, including the views of Traditional Owners and Registered Aboriginal Parties, and any other relevant information before providing advice to the Minister for Planning. The Minister will then assess the environmental effects of the project after considering the IAC’s report.

Information on the EES process can be found on the Engage Victoria website.

Keep informed and involved

Privacy

For more information on how we handle personal information, please visit the Western Renewables Link project’s privacy page and privacy collection statement:  Privacy Policy - Western Renewables Link, which contains a link to the AusNet group’s privacy policy, located here:  Privacy - AusNet. The AusNet group’s privacy policy sets out how the AusNet group, including AusNet Transmission Group Pty Ltd, collects and handles personal information and the privacy collection statement for the Western Renewables Link project sets out how AusNet Transmission Group Pty Ltd collects and handles personal information specifically for the Western Renewables Link project.

More information

 
Planning Scheme Amendment
Planning Scheme Amendment
 
Other approvals
Other approvals
 
Resources
Resources
 
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