VNI West Inquiry and Advisory Committee

The Minister for Planning will appoint a joint Inquiry and Advisory Committee (IAC) to consider and advise on the environmental effects of the proposed works for the Victorian component of the Victoria to New South Wales Interconnector West (the Project). The IAC is an independent group of experts tasked with this assessment.

The Project proposes a high-voltage double-circuit overhead electricity transmission line from Bulgana in western Victoria to the Dinawan Substation in New South Wales.

VicGrid VNI West is the Proponent and is developing and delivering the Project’s Victorian component. This includes:

• Construction and operation of about 240 km of 500 kV (kilovolt) double-circuit overhead transmission line from Bulgana, where the Project would connect to the proposed Western Renewables Link Bulgana Terminal Station, north to the Murray River
• A new terminal station at Tragowel
• Modifications to the existing 220 kV transmission line near Tragowel
• Two sets of 500 kV shunt reactors at Bulgana, forming the Bulgana Reactor Station, inside or adjacent to the Bulgana Terminal Station

The IAC will:

• review the Environment Effects Statement (EES)
• review draft Planning Scheme Amendment GC316 to the Gannawarra, Buloke, Loddon and Northern Grampians Planning Schemes
• review submissions received during public exhibition
• hold an inquiry by public hearing to hear from the Proponent and submitters who want to present to the IAC about the ‘key environmental matters’ specified in the Terms of Reference
• hold an inquiry by written submissions to hear from the Proponent and submitters about the ‘other environmental matters’ specified in the Terms of Reference
• provide advice to the Minister for Planning about the environmental effects of the Project and the draft Planning Scheme Amendment.