General News
13 October, 2026
Councils withdraw from VNI West reference group
Two neighbouring councils have officially withdrawn from the Victoria to New South Wales Interconnector West Environment Effects Statement Technical Reference Group.
The Buloke and Northern Grampians shire councils notified Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny of their withdrawal from the Technical Reference Group due to increasing concerns.
Buloke mayor Graeme Milne said leaders from both councils repeatedly identified potential negative effects from the project on local areas such as roads, housing and employment opportunities during TRG meetings.
He said despite this, VicGrid, as the proponent for the TRG process, generally ignored or minimised the councils' input, resulting in no material change in their decision-making approach.
“Both councils remain committed to constructive engagement with the project proponent in the lead-up to the EES inquiry scheduled for February and remain even more committed to ensuring the interests of our communities are properly represented,” he said.
Northern Grampians Shire Deputy Mayor Justine Hide said council staff and technical specialists were doing EES review tasks that should have been handled by the proponent and state agencies, rather than the TRG.
"The group essentially invested valuable time and effort reviewing, checking and correcting the proponent’s own technical material, which is not the intended purpose of the TRG," she said.
"This, combined with the limited evidence of our input translating into any substantive change, has left both councils with the strong impression that the TRG process has been tokenistic rather than a genuine mechanism for local government to influence VNI West outcomes."
Cr Hide noted that the large volumes of technically complex material, often provided on short deadlines, placed a significant resource burden on both councils, disproportionate to their influence in the process.
"This came at a cost to our capacity to work on other projects and matters that are currently affecting our communities," she said.
The TRG was established in early 2024 to guide the VNI West Environment Effects Statement, ensuring technical studies are sound and project responses adequately address key risks and community impacts.
The EES is expected to be released for public exhibition.
Submissions will be reviewed during the EES inquiry process in 2027, giving councils another opportunity to raise their concerns.
Further information on the councils' advocacy efforts is available on their websites at ngshire.vic.gov.au/government-renewable-energy-projects and buloke.vic.gov.au/renewable-energy-projects-in-buloke-shire.