The Victorian Government has formally declared five onshore renewable energy zones—South West, Central Highlands, Gippsland, Western and North West, as well as the Gippsland Shoreline Renewable Energy Zone, which will host underground cables connecting offshore wind energy to the grid.
The 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan proposed six onshore renewable energy zones, along with a Gippsland shoreline zone. The Victorian Government has now declared five of these zones, as well as the shoreline zone. Consultation will continue on the sixth onshore zone, The Central North zone.
Related article: REZ consortium destroys Aboriginal heritage rock shelter
VicGrid CEO Alistair Parker said, “Victoria’s coal-fired power stations are due to close over the next 10 years and a significant amount of new renewable energy development is needed to make sure we can meet increasing demand for electricity.
“Renewable energy zones will ensure better coordination of projects and signal to communities and industry where the development of renewable energy should occur.
“The Minister’s declaration of zones will enable VicGrid to set clearer rules around how projects gain access to the grid, including expectations for how they engage with communities and deliver benefits.”
The renewable energy zones have been designed to make the most of existing infrastructure and to minimise impacts for regional communities, the environment, landholders and key regional industries like agriculture.
The declared renewable energy zones follow a statewide strategic land use assessment and more than two years of consultation with regional communities and stakeholders, landholders, agriculture stakeholders, Traditional Owners, and the energy industry.
The most recent round of consultation resulted in zone boundaries being refined and in the removal of some areas proposed for renewable energy zones. This includes a section of the South West Zone which has not been declared in recognition that more work is required on its suitability.
Related article: Construction underway at Hunter-Central Coast REZ
VicGrid has also released for consultation draft 2026 Victorian Transmission Plan Guidelines, setting out the proposed approach that will be taken to developing the next Victorian Transmission Plan in 2027, which will take a 25-year view of the state’s transmission and renewable energy generation needs.
