Michelle Slater
Latrobe City Council is accusing the state government of overlooking the Latrobe Valley in its Renewable Energy Zones Development Plan, which only identifies one project for Gippsland.
Council has also urged also urging the state government to fast track this project by bringing it forward from stage two of the plan, considering the early exit of Yallourn slated for 2028.
The state government has earmarked six renewable energy zones across Victoria to unlock an extra 10 gigawatts of renewables under two phases, with first stage projects to be delivered by 2025.
It would be enabled by a $540 million REZFund to roll out infrastructure and establish a new body called VicGrid.
However, a government discussion paper which is out for public comment shows only one project penned for Gippsland – a 500 kilovolt transmission line to the Latrobe Valley.
In a submission into the discussion paper, Latrobe City stated that the government had “failed to capitalise” on the Valley’s exiting grid network and skilled workforce.
“It also fails to encourage suitable projects and battery storage projects in the Latrobe Valley municipality,” the submission states.
“And, is enough being done to inform, consult and involve the community so that social licence is achieved?”
Cr Darren Howe spoke on the submission at Latrobe City’s April meeting, saying “the government should step up to the bat and give us a bit more”.
“We’ve been the power hub in Victoria for 100 years, we have the infrastructure, the lines and skilled workforce. In the two stages, we have only one proposed project,” Cr Howe said.
“I think we deserve better than that, especially as we haven’t recovered from privatisation, let alone Hazelwood or Yallourn.”
Latrobe City pointed out the job losses and economic impacts of the forecast closure of Yallourn, the “second major energy sector employer to close within a decade.”
“Unfortunately, this announcement was made in the absence of any state government transition plan for the Latrobe Valley,” the submission said.
It said bringing forward stage two would “send a strong message to the community” that the government was taking action to ensure future growth for the region.
Latrobe City has also recommended the government prioritises local procurement and includes local training providers to develop the Gippsland REZ.
It also wants the government to ensure VicGrid would not add layers of red tape to any new approvals processes, and wants it to set up local advisory and community consultative committees.
According to the directions paper, stage two projects would require further technical analysis, costs and benefits, business modelling and significant community and stakeholder consultation.
This directions paper examines the state’s ageing coal-fired power stations and ever-increasing questions about reliability and future jobs.
