Victoria Orders Cost Review of $1.5 Billion Western Renewables Link Project

The Victorian government has ordered an independent review of the Western Renewables Link (WRL), a major electricity transmission project valued at approximately $1.5 billion, as debate continues over its cost, environmental impact, and effect on local communities.

Premier Ben Carroll announced the review on the same day Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny approved a key planning milestone for the project by accepting its Environment Effects Statement (EES). The review is intended to provide updated cost estimates and assess opportunities to reduce construction expenses.

According to the government, there will be no compulsory acquisition of private property while the cost assessment is underway. Carroll said the review is aimed at ensuring transparency and value for taxpayers, noting that the project was originally planned nearly a decade ago and that updated financial information is needed.

The proposed 190-kilometre transmission line would connect Bulgana, near Ararat in western Victoria, to Sydenham in Melbourne’s north-west. The project is designed to increase the capacity of the electricity network by connecting renewable energy developments in western Victoria to the state’s grid.

In her assessment, Kilkenny found the project would likely have significant environmental and visual impacts, particularly on landscape values and local amenity. However, she concluded that the broader public benefits of the project outweigh those impacts and that environmental risks could be managed through mitigation measures.

The Western Renewables Link has been the subject of ongoing opposition from some landholders and residents living along the proposed route. Community members have raised concerns about environmental impacts, property effects, and the social impact of the transmission corridor.

The approval of the EES allows the project to move forward through additional regulatory processes. According to project developer AusNet, further approvals may still be required, including permits relating to protected vegetation, wildlife management, and works affecting waterways.

Some local residents and farming groups remain critical of the project. Landholders have argued that concerns raised during the consultation process have not been fully addressed and continue to question whether environmental impacts can be adequately managed.

The cost review is expected to be completed later this year, with findings to be made public. The outcome could influence future decisions regarding the timing, scope, and delivery of one of Victoria’s largest renewable energy infrastructure projects.