Council Responds to Minister’s Approval of Warracknabeal Energy Park

Published on 18 May 2026

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Council Responds to Minister’s Approval of Warracknabeal Energy Park

Yarriambiack Shire Council has responded to the Minister for Planning’s decision that the Warracknabeal Energy Park can proceed, subject to strict conditions and amended mitigation measures.

Mayor Andrew McLean said the Minister’s assessment confirms the large-scale project — proposed at 1,575 megawatts, with up to 219 turbines and contributing approximately 12.5 per cent of Victoria’s electricity — can move forward with what has been deemed acceptable environmental outcomes by the State Government.

“This is a significant project not just for Yarriambiack, but for the State’s energy transition plan” Cr McLean said.

“However, it is equally important that the impacts on our community, agriculture and environment are carefully managed and fully addressed.”

 

Minister Adopts Inquiry Recommendations

The Minister has generally adopted the Inquiry’s recommendations, including findings across:

  • Biodiversity
  • Aboriginal cultural heritage
  • Hydrology and water management
  • Landscape and visual impacts
  • Land use and socio-economic impacts
  • Other key matters such as aviation, bushfire, noise, traffic and electromagnetic interference

The assessment also serves as the accredited Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act assessment, and will now proceed to the Commonwealth Minister for the final controlled action decision.

 

Key Departures from Inquiry Recommendations

Cr McLean noted two important areas where the Minister has not adopted the Inquiry’s recommendations:

  • The Minister did not support mandatory full-height marking of meteorological masts, leaving this to be determined by the proponent in consultation with relevant agencies.
  • The Minister did not require formal approval of the full Environmental Management Framework (EMF), instead leaving the implementation of mitigation measures to be resolved through statutory approvals.

 

Council Outcomes from the EES Process

Council’s advocacy throughout the EES process resulted in a mix of outcomes:

Wins for Council

  • Water quality: Introduction of new requirements for baseline testing, monitoring, and protection of Yarriambiack Creek and associated wetlands.
  • Bushfire: Formal consultation with the Warracknabeal CFA and Council now embedded in emergency and fire management planning.

Partial Wins

  • Hydrology: While Council’s request for flood modelling within the EES was not adopted, modelling is now required before planning approval, strengthening safeguards.
  • Traffic: The Inquiry acknowledged concerns around road damage and cost responsibility, with improvements to management requirements.

Mixed Outcomes

  • Socio-economic impacts: Strengthened wording requiring housing impacts to be managed, but no requirement for Council approval of key strategies.

Unsuccessful Outcomes

  • Aviation concerns regarding full-height mast marking
  • Decommissioning bond requirements
  • Extended turbine setback distances
  • Modifications to turbine layout near Warracknabeal Airport
  • Quarry material supply risk management

 

Ongoing Community Concerns

Cr McLean said Council continues to hold concerns about the cumulative impacts of multiple large-scale developments across the region.

“We now have the Hemisphere’s Biggest Wind Farm and a mineral sands / rare earths mine progressing in our Shire. This scale of change brings significant challenges,” he said.

Council is seeking to avoid outcomes where:

  • Benefits accrue primarily to developers and a transient workforce
  • Cumulative impacts are not adequately considered
  • Strategic coordination across projects is lacking

Instead, Council is advocating for:

  • Genuine engagement with local communities
  • Coordinated planning between State Government, developers and local government
  • Long-term investment that delivers lasting benefits for the region

 

Looking Ahead

Cr McLean said a coordinated and strategic approach across government and industry will be essential.

“We have multiple large-scale developments already underway or planned across our region, including mineral sands projects,” he said.

“It is vital that cumulative impacts are properly managed, and that there is coordinated planning — not a fragmented, project-by-project approach.”

“Council will continue to advocate strongly for our community to ensure these developments deliver real, lasting benefits for Yarriambiack and do not come at the expense of our people, our farms, or our future.”

 

END OF RELEASE

 

Cr Andrew McLean                                     

Mayor                        

 

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