A major electricity infrastructure project in Victoria has entered a new stage today, with the Environment Effects Statement for the VNI West transmission project opening for public exhibition on 5 October 2026. The project is designed to strengthen the electricity network across western Victoria and improve connections between renewable energy generation and the wider electricity grid.

The VNI West project involves a proposed high-voltage transmission line running from Bulgana towards Kerang and then across the Victorian-New South Wales border. The project has been under assessment for several years, with authorities examining how the proposed infrastructure could affect communities, farmland, waterways, roads, bushfire risks and areas of cultural significance.

According to information released today, Vic Grid has spent the past two years assessing the potential environmental and community impacts of the proposed transmission route. The assessment has considered a wide range of issues that could affect people living and working near the proposed infrastructure.

The opening of the Environment Effects Statement provides an opportunity for members of the public, landholders, community organisations and other interested groups to examine the project's assessment documents and provide feedback.

Transmission infrastructure has become increasingly important as Victoria expands renewable energy generation. New electricity infrastructure is required to connect renewable energy projects to homes and businesses while helping maintain reliability across the state's electricity network.

However, large transmission projects can also create concerns for regional communities, particularly where proposed infrastructure crosses agricultural land. Farmers and landholders can face questions about access to properties, farming operations, visual impacts, environmental effects and the long-term use of land.

The VNI West assessment therefore includes consideration of agriculture, water, bushfire risk, traffic and cultural heritage, reflecting the range of issues that can arise from a large infrastructure project.

The public review comes as regional Victorian communities continue to debate the future of renewable energy development and the infrastructure required to support it. A candidates forum held in the Ripon electorate also highlighted renewable-energy transmission lines as one of the major issues raised by local residents.

The forum attracted around 200 community members, with renewable-energy projects among the dominant concerns discussed. Other issues raised included the emergency services levy and regional roads.

The VNI West public exhibition is expected to give communities a further opportunity to understand the project's proposed route and the findings of the environmental assessment before decisions are made.

For residents and landholders potentially affected by the project, the review is an important stage because submissions can help authorities understand local concerns and identify issues requiring further consideration.

The project remains subject to the relevant environmental and planning assessment processes. Today's opening of the Environment Effects Statement does not mean construction has begun. Instead, it marks the beginning of another formal stage in the assessment of the proposed transmission development.

The VNI West project is part of Victoria's broader effort to upgrade its electricity transmission network as the state moves towards a greater reliance on renewable energy.