Building an electricity grid for Victoria’s future
[On-screen text: VicGrid logo. Victoria State Government logo. Text: Building an electricity grid for Victoria’s future]
[On-screen: aerial footage of a regional landscape, wind turbines, solar farm, transmission, Monique Halliday]
Monique Halliday, Victorian Transmission Investment Framework Engagement Lead: Victoria is rich in renewable energy resources such as wind and solar, but some of our sunniest and windiest places aren't well connected to the current electricity grid.
Our grid was built to deliver energy from coal fired power plants in the Latrobe Valley.
[On-screen: aerial view footage of wind turbines, solar farm, transmission towers]
Monique: As coal fired power plants retire, we need to modernise our grid to carry clean energy from where it's generated and deliver it safely to all Victorians across the state.
[On screen: Monique Halliday]
Monique: VicGrid is leading this work and is developing a new long term strategic plan called the Victorian Transmission Plan.
[On screen: footage of transmission, people engaging at a community event, text – The Victorian Transmission Plan]
Monique: We've been working with communities for the past year to ensure they have a voice in this process.
Their insights and feedback have been critical to help us get this right.
[On screen: Monique Halliday]
Monique: The Victorian Transmission Plan will coordinate development of renewable energy infrastructure in new renewable energy zones.
[On screen: footage of transmission lines, aerial view of a battery storage site being developed, Alistair Parker]
Alistair Parker, CEO at VicGrid: These renewable energy zones will be the areas of the state best suited to host renewable energy infrastructure.
[On screen: aerial footage of a solar farm, wind turbines, transmission towers]
Alistair: Inside a renewable energy zone, you'll see the development of solar and wind projects or batteries, all connected to the transmission network in a coordinated way.
[On screen: footage of Alistair Parker, person driving past a wind farm, sheep grazing under wind turbines]
Alistair: By coordinating development within renewable energy zones, we can minimise the impacts and disruption to communities, to landholders, industry and the environment.
[On screen: footage of a battery storage site under construction, solar farm, wind farm]
Alistair: Renewable energy zones will help us build the right infrastructure in the right place, at the right time, giving project developers certainty that they can deliver their energy to the grid and keep costs down for consumers.
[On screen: footage of people working on a battery storage site, and working in a café, people engaging at a community event, Alistair Parker]
Alistair: The development of renewable energy zones will create jobs and economic opportunities in regional Victoria, and there'll be a new approach to sharing benefits much more fairly with host communities, with landholders, with their neighbours and Traditional Owners.
[On screen: footage of Traditional Owners walking and talking, solar farm, wind turbines]
Renewable Energy Zones will play a critical role in Victoria's transition away from fossil fuels.
[On screen: footage of Alistair Parker, VicGrid staff engaging with community]
Alistair: They will also help us meet our climate targets and help us stay connected as coal retires.
We know we need the input of communities to get this right.
We've engaged early and often with communities.
We'll keep that up so they can have their say throughout this process.
[On screen: footage of crops, Traditional Owners meeting near a river bank]
We're considering important regional industries like agriculture and the potential impact on the environment, alongside a whole range of cultural and social factors.
[On screen: Alistair Parker]
Alistair: We have some really difficult decisions to make, but I've been determined since I joined VicGrid that we would do this in a way that's respectful.
We would listen to feedback and we'll always explain why we've made certain decisions.
[On screen: aerial footage of a regional town at dusk]
Alistair: People won't like every single thing we do, but we will make sure we are transparent and honest about how we've made the decisions and how we've listened to the feedback we've had.
[On screen: footage of Monique talking to people at a community event, people reading documents]
We encourage First Peoples, Traditional Owners, regional communities, landholders, industry and other key stakeholders to get involved.
[On screen: Monique]
Monique: We need your input to plan a new, secure and reliable grid that delivers power for all Victorians.
[On-screen: aerial footage of a rural landscape, VicGrid logo. Victoria State Government logo]
Page last updated: 29/08/25