Across Wannon, the landscape is changing. Wind turbines are a common sight and transmission lines are being routed through farming districts, bringing visible and lasting changes to the region.
This infrastructure signals a government imposed shift in how our energy is produced and delivered, and with that shift comes the potential for profound and lasting impacts on our communities, our livelihoods and our way of life.
One thing has quickly become clear: without genuine community trust — a social licence — these projects can create enormous division within communities.
Gaining social licence is not a ‘tick the box’ exercise. It is earned through honest engagement, transparent decision-making, and ensuring that the people most affected see clear, lasting benefits or have the right to say no.
Unfortunately, too often we’ve seen the opposite — decisions made in complete isolation of those most impacted, locals informed after plans are locked in and promises of benefits that are vague or easily shifted elsewhere.
The recent open letter from Squadron Energy to the Ballyrogan community is a telling example. The company publicly admitted they “didn’t get it right” when introducing its wind farm proposal, acknowledging that their approach had caused “concern and division.”
This kind of candour is rare, and it is a reminder that companies must do more than apologise. They must change how they work with communities from day one.
True partnership means early consultation — not after designs are drawn up, but before a single plan is finalised. It means listening to concerns about visual impact, environmental effects and land use, and adapting projects to address them or not proceeding at all. It also means delivering benefits directly to the communities hosting this infrastructure, not funnelling funds away into distant government accounts.
That is why I am deeply concerned about the Allan Labor Government’s new National Electricity (Victoria) Amendment (VicGrid Stage 2 Reform) Bill 2025.
This legislation gives the State Government the power to enter private properties to assess them for renewable energy infrastructure without the owner’s permission. Such heavy-handed measures, that include issuing substantial fines to those who obstruct or refuse access, undermine trust and make it harder, not easier, to build community support.
The Bill also centralises control over so-called “community benefit” funds, removing them from the hands of local communities and placing them in State-controlled pools. There is no guarantee that the towns and regions living with the impacts of these projects will see a fair share of the benefits.
In some cases, these funds can even be redirected into consolidated revenue — effectively turning them into another tax on people’s power bills.
Renewable energy projects must be built with communities, not imposed on them.
Earning social licence is not about slowing progress. It’s about ensuring progress endures. Projects that are planned in genuine partnership, where communities are respected, heard and see clear benefits, are far more likely to succeed.
Whether or not you support a specific project, one principle should be universal: the people who live with the long-term impacts must have a meaningful voice in shaping them. Only then can change bring shared prosperity rather than lasting division.
ENDS
Contact: Sandie Gustus M | 0408 564 232 E | sandie.gustus@aph.gov.au
Published in the Ararat Advocate and the Pyrenees Advocate
