The Community Engagement Summary Report March – May 2021 released today outlines the key issues and concerns raised with us by local communities and landowners between March and May 2021.
All feedback received to date through the various engagement activities we have held as well as through the project hotline and email has been provided to the environmental and technical specialists to help identify the best route, with the least impact, within the corridor that was announced in June.
Last month, the project team hosted eight webinars on key topics including the single corridor selection process (two webinars offered); agriculture; landscape and visual; biodiversity; bushfire; electric and magnetic fields; and compensation and valuation.
We had hoped to run these sessions face-to-face, however the webinars provided a COVID-safe way for the 312 community members who participated to hear directly from the specialists on the existing conditions and have their questions answered. The webinars were recorded and can be viewed on our website on the Get Involved page.
Over 50 people booked in for a one-on-one 30-minute session with a specialist this month. The same key topics were available as the webinars and provided people with the opportunity to ask specific questions on issues that matter to them.
In our end-of-year community update, we will include more details of the engagement activities undertaken by our land access team since June as well as the webinars and one-on-one sessions held in September and October.
Next steps
As we progress the design and planning of this proposed project, there will be many opportunities for landowners and the community to provide further input as the Environment Effects Statement (EES) process continues. We are expecting to announce the final proposed route before the end of the year.
The proposed project requires both Victorian and Commonwealth Government approvals before construction can commence. The EES is expected to be submitted in 2022 for formal public consultation and independent review.
If there are any other issues that you would like us to consider, please contact the project team on 1300 360 795 or email info@westernrenewableslink.com.au.