[On-screen text: VicGrid logo. Victoria State Government logo. Victorian Transmission Plan]

[On-screen footage: aerial view of transmission lines, wind turbines, people in a café and homes.]

Catherine Gip: Electricity keeps us connected. It connects us with our families and with our work, and it powers our farms, schools, businesses, hospitals and homes.

[On screen text: Catherine Gip. Project Director, REZ Development Integration and Engagement}

For many decades, Victoria's electricity has come from our coal-fired power stations.

[On screen footage: aerial view of a regional town at night, river, solar farm and wind farm]


But these power stations are now coming to the end of their lives and they're becoming less reliable and more expensive to maintain.

All Victoria's coal-fired power stations are expected to close in the 2030s and we need something to replace power they generate.

At the same time, demand for electricity is on the rise and climate change is affecting our lives here at home.

[On screen footage: aerial view of arid land, energy storage site under construction, solar farm, wind turbines.]

That's why Victoria is making the transition to clean, reliable and affordable renewable energy.

Renewables are the most cost effective way to replace coal and generate enough energy to meet future demand. And they will help us reduce the impact of climate change on future generations.

To secure our energy future, we now need to build new solar and wind generation, backed up by batteries, supported by an upgraded transmission network.

[On screen footage: aerial shots of transmission]

VicGrid was set up by the Victorian Government to plan and coordinate this new infrastructure.

[On screen: Catherine]

We're putting in place a new long-term strategic plan, called the Victorian Transmission Plan.

{On screen: Text – The Victorian Transmission Plan, footage of an energy storage site under construction, Catherine.]

The plan will make sure we're only building the infrastructure we need so we can minimise impacts on communities, industries and the environment and keep downward pressure on power bills.

[On screen footage: VicGrid staff engaging with community members at an event.]

We're engaging early in the process, ensuring the community, landholders and First People are given the opportunity to have their say.

[On screen: Catherine]

This is a big change to how energy infrastructure has been planned in the past.

[On screen footage: aerial view of transmission over trees, a regional town, crops, people talking at a community event.]

We still need to consider cost to consumers and do the technical work. But we're also taking into account land use and social, cultural and environmental factors as we do the work to find the most suitable areas for development.

We're looking closely at things like impacts on agricultural land, community preferences and economic opportunities for the regions.

[On screen footage: aerial shots of transmission near a river.]

Our aim is to plan new transmission infrastructure in a coordinated way so we can avoid the spaghetti effect of building too many lines across the countryside.

[On screen footage: people reading a document]

Early and meaningful engagement is key to our new planning approach.

[On screen text and footage: Monique Halliday. Victorian Transmission Investment Framework Engagement Lead.]

Monique Halliday: We want to give you all the information and support you need to help plan our clean energy future.

Over the past year, VicGrid has been out across Victoria engaging on our new way of planning renewable energy infrastructure.

[On screen text: The Victorian Transmission Plan – releasing the first draft, footage of transmission.]

We'll soon be releasing the first draft of the Victorian Transmission Plan and it will be another important chance for you to have your say.

We know change can be unsettling for all of us and that there are real impacts that we need to manage.

[On screen footage: Monique looking at scenery, people reading a document.]

That's why we're committed to really listening to regional communities, answering questions, and taking on board your feedback.

[On screen footage: aerial shots of a rural landscape]

Your input is critical so that we can deliver a secure and reliable grid that will help us all stay connected.

[On screen: Monique]

Thanks for watching and we look forward to meeting you soon.

[On screen text: VicGrid logo, Victoria State Government logo]

Page last updated: 25/03/25