Thursday, 10 September 2026

 Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (22:01): (2807) My matter is for the Minister for Energy and Resources. The action I seek is for the minister to ensure that proponents of renewable energy projects conform to the community engagement guidelines and that the minister ensure that the proponent of the battery energy storage system in Doreen hold a town hall style public meeting to answer questions where all attendees can hear the answers. I recently attended a community information session for residents concerned about a proposal for a battery energy storage system in Doreen. The proposed site of the battery system is in the green wedge, which is protected land and not an appropriate location for an industrial facility. Understandably, this has alarmed locals, and they gathered at the community forum with many questions on their minds. But they received no answers from the proponents, who refused to deal with any questions from the floor.

VicGrid recently released an updated version of the community engagement and social value guidelines for renewable energy developers. The guidelines state that the minimum expectations for developers engaging with communities include providing timely and transparent information about the project at the earliest opportunity, integrating community feedback and giving ongoing engagement opportunities with communication tailored to reflect local priorities and community needs. The proponents of the Doreen battery facility were clearly not conforming to these guidelines, and the community left the meeting feeling very frustrated about the lack of answers from the proponents and their unwillingness to engage with the community’s concerns.

I have also been troubled by the behaviour of the proponent of a wind energy facility that may host 40 to 50 turbines in Nanneella and Koyuga. The project has been in the feasibility study stage for several years, but no permit application has been submitted yet. This long, drawn-out process with no transparent or ongoing communication at all from the proponent to the local community has been severely distressing for neighbouring landowners and residents.

Renewable energy developments have a massive impact on small rural communities, and it is completely unacceptable that developers can leave locals in the dark for years, living with perpetual uncertainty about the future of their homes. The newly released engagement guidelines are a step in the right direction. However, these rules do not come into effect until July 2027, and yet right now communities are already dealing with development proposals that will alter their landscape forever. VicGrid’s website says that until the rules are in place the government will ensure developer engagement is consistent with the guidelines. These guidelines will be nothing more than a dead letter if the government is not willing and able to enforce them.