Western Renewables Link
AusNet Services is progressing the Western Renewables Link, a proposed high-voltage overhead electricity transmission line in western Victoria. The project is intended to connect renewable energy from Bulgana in western Victoria to Sydenham in Melbourne’s north-west, helping unlock renewable energy potential in western Victoria and support the state’s energy transition.
Our team has supported AusNet Services since 2022, providing strategic project, engagement and communications support for this complex, multi-year project. The engagement brings together Environment Effects Statement (EES) program coordination, land access and acquisition support, community and stakeholder engagement, compensation communications, and the development of accessible project information.
Working as part of the integrated project team, our consultants help connect technical experts, project executives, landholder engagement, communications and approvals workstreams so information can move clearly between the people developing the project and the communities and stakeholders affected by it.
The challenge
The Western Renewables Link is a large and sensitive transmission project with a significant geographic footprint across western Victoria. It requires ongoing engagement with landholders, communities, industry, government agencies and other project stakeholders while the project continues through planning and approvals.
The project’s complexity creates practical challenges for engagement and delivery. Technical and planning information needs to be translated into clear, timely and accessible communication materials, particularly on sensitive topics such as compensation, biosecurity, approvals, construction impacts and land access.
The evolving project scope and Environment Effects Statement process also required strong coordination between technical disciplines, government departments, advisory bodies and the project team. For AusNet Services, maintaining transparency, consistency and accountability across enquiries, complaints, documentation, review processes and stakeholder commitments was critical.
Our approach
Our team was embedded within the project management office to support program coordination and help drive the planning, review and delivery rhythm for the EES. This included developing the strategic planning schedule for the EES, coordinating review processes and supporting stakeholder inputs across a broad and technically complex program.
We also supported land access and compensation workstreams by developing and managing processes, materials and collateral for negotiations and engagement. This included Request for Information processes, landholder guides, letter templates, fact sheets, frequently asked questions and communications for the project’s compensation strategy.
To support broader engagement, our communications specialists planned, curated, wrote and designed project resources that made complex information easier to understand. Materials covered technical and sensitive subjects including compensation, biosecurity, approvals and construction, with approvals coordinated across internal stakeholders, government departments, the EES technical reference group and industry groups.
Our team also established internal project management procedures to improve collaboration between technical experts, stakeholder-facing teams and project executives. These procedures helped strengthen transparency, accountability and consistency across complaints and enquiry management.
The result
Our support has helped AusNet Services manage a complex planning, engagement and approvals environment for one of Victoria’s major renewable energy transmission projects.
The EES process has progressed through public exhibition and hearing, with our team supporting the program coordination, review processes, communications and engagement inputs needed to keep workstreams aligned. The project continues through planning and approvals, and our team remains engaged.
The project information, templates and engagement materials developed by our team have helped landholders, communities and stakeholders access clearer information on complex and sensitive topics. Bespoke internal procedures have also improved transparency and accountability across enquiry and complaints management, supporting stronger response timeframes and fewer complaints overall.
For AusNet Services, our embedded, multidisciplinary support has helped create a more connected and proactive project team. For Victoria’s energy transition, the work supports the planning and engagement foundations needed to progress infrastructure designed to connect renewable energy into the grid.
