Vol. 28 No. 45
A FREE PUBLICATION FROM YOUR LOCAL RADIO STATIONS 3WM AND MIXXFM
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
WOW: Victoria State Emergency Service, VICSES, is showcased today with Wear Orange Wednesday, celebrated within this week’s annual National Volunteer Week. Also known as WOW Day, it highlights the contribution VICSES members make to the community in times of emergency, particularly in rescues, floods and storms. Horsham volunteers Stephen Roberts, left, and Curtis Vanstan welcome prospective members to visit the unit during their 7pm Tuesday trainings. Story, page 4. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Energy park concerns A
BY LAUREN HENRY
long list of concerns remain for Yarriambiack Shire Council and the community following the Victorian Planning Minister’s approval of the Environment Effects Statement for the Warracknabeal Energy Park.
Sonia Kilkenny signed off on the EES last week – a major step towards the biggest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere being built in the Wimmera. Further approvals are still required before a final decision is made, including a Federal Government approval under national environmental laws. The 219-turbine wind farm is set to deliver more than 1.5-gigawatts of renewable energy, which the State
Government says is enough to power up to 1.2-million homes – and generate about 12.5 per cent of the state’s future energy needs. The park will be situated on two sites across 26,000 hectares of agricultural land – one five kilometres north-west of Warracknabeal and the other eight kilometres southwest of the town. Warracknabeal Energy Park underwent the EES process, including technical studies, community consultation and a public inquiry last year, attracting 92 submissions – a majority either in opposition or raising significant concerns with aspects of the project. Yarriambiack Shire Council’s concerns centred on the impact on neighbouring properties; worker accommodation pressures; local employment
and skills; decommissioning and longterm land use; the effect on roads, traffic and quarry materials; the effect it would have on water courses and drainage; and bushfire risk and impacts on Warracknabeal Airport. Horsham Rural City Council also made a submission, supporting Yarriambiack council’s concerns about insufficient worker accommodation amid a housing shortage; strain on employment in a tight labour market; and the impact on roads with components of the turbines to be transported from Portland to the park’s sites. Yarriambiack Mayor Andrew McLean said council recognised that large-scale renewable energy and mining developments have created significant concern and division across the shire.
“As a council, we understand the level of community angst these developments have created. We respect the rights of landholders to make decisions about their land, and we ask our community to respect those decisions as well,” he said. Cr McLean said the scale of change with many large-scale projects proposed across the shire brought significant challenges, and a co-ordinated and strategic approach across government and industry was essential. “It is vital cumulative impacts are properly managed, and there is co-ordinated planning – not a fragmented, project-by-project approach,” he said. “Council will continue to advocate strongly for our community to ensure these developments deliver real, lasting benefits for Yarriambiack and do
not come at the expense of our people, our farms, or our future.” Council’s adopted position statement highlights the need for stronger protections, fairer outcomes, and meaningful engagement as the region experiences significant change. “If our region is to host renewable energy and mining projects, it is essential community perspectives are genuinely heard and reflected in decision-making,” Cr McLean said. “At present, many in our community do not feel those voices are adequately represented in the State Government’s long-term vision.” Continued page 3
IN THIS ISSUE • Celebration of volunteers • Western Highway works start • Football, netball action Phone: 03 5382 1351 Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
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