Food, Energy & Community. Renewables in the Right Place.
The Dookie and broader Goulburn Valley community has launched a formal campaign calling for responsible renewable energy planning, following serious concerns about the placement and expansion of the proposed Central North Renewable Energy Zone — including the addition of areas that were not consulted on during the draft planning process.
Dookie was added to the REZ after the draft plan, without consultation — that’s the core issue.
The Dookie Hills and Goulburn Valley are nationally significant landscapes that already support food production, livestock systems, edible oils and renewable biofuels. These landscapes are part of Victoria’s low-carbon future and must be protected through smart, place-based planning.
We need to support renewable energy while protecting Victoria’s most productive agricultural, food and bioenergy-producing landscapes, cultural heritage, environment and regional livelihoods.
This land feeds and powers Victoria.
The campaign is calling on community members to support a formal petition to the Victorian Parliament. Under parliamentary requirements, the petition must receive either 2,000 written signatures or 10,000 verified electronic signatures by 26 May 2026 in order to be formally tabled..
Why this is the wrong place
The proposed Central North Renewable Energy Zone extends into the Dookie district — a landscape that is already contributing to Victoria’s food and energy systems.
This area is not under-utilised or low-value land. It is a strategic food and bioenergy production landscape that:
produces high-yield wheat and canola supporting food, livestock feed and renewable biofuel supply chains
underpins regional and statewide food security and energy transition goals
contains Aboriginal cultural landscapes not fully captured by current mapping
includes wetlands, natural floodways and Brolga habitat
supports tourism, recreation and local businesses centred on Mount Major and the Dookie Rail Trail
Placing large-scale industrialised infrastructure here would displace existing food and bioenergy production, fragment productive farmland, and permanently alter a culturally and environmentally significant landscape.
Why your signature matters?
This campaign is working toward a formal parliamentary outcome.
Under Victorian parliamentary rules, a community petition that reaches 10,000 verified online signatures must be formally submitted to the Legislative Council of Victoria and receive a response from the relevant Minister.
This moves the issue beyond consultation and submissions ensuring it is formally considered at a state level.
Our goal:
10,000 signatures by May 2026
This ensures community concerns about the Central North Renewable Energy Zone are placed on the parliamentary record and cannot be ignored.
Key Facts
The Dookie district forms part of the Goulburn Valley’s highly productive agricultural system, supporting food production, livestock feed, edible oils and renewable biofuel supply chains.
Wheat yields (dryland)
Canola yields
(food, feed & bioenergy)
Had no consultation opportunity
Dookie is a food producing powerhouse.
Local Farmer and Agronomist explains the exceptional statistics and facts that our Dookie district is producing.
5–8 t/ha
3–4 t/ha
84% of locals
Our Ask
We support renewable energy and climate action.
We believe renewable energy must be delivered in a way that strengthens food systems, energy transition goals and regional communities not undermines them.
Our ask is simple, reasonable and evidence-based.
Suspend the Central North REZ until full cultural, agricultural, environmental and hydrological assessments are completed.
Protect Dookie’s prime agricultural land from inappropriate industrial-scale infrastructure.
Require proper consultation with landholders, Traditional Owners and community groups.
Commission cultural mapping in partnership with Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation.
Ensure renewable energy planning does not override food security, cultural heritage, biodiversity and community wellbeing.
Relocation of REZ infrastructure to lower-impact areas.
Renewable energy must be delivered in the right place. Strengthening, not displacing, food and energy systems.
Protect Dookie & The Goulburn Valley
Help Protect Dookie & the Goulburn Valley.
The campaign is calling on community members to support a formal petition to the Victorian Parliament. Under parliamentary requirements, the petition must receive either 2,000 written signatures or 10,000 verified electronic signatures by 26 May 2026 in order to be formally tabled.