The eastern section of the Central North Renewable Energy Zone which includes Dookie was not consulted on during the draft 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan process.

This section was added after the draft phase, as acknowledged in the plan documentation. While further consultation is proposed during the Renewable Energy Zone declaration process, this engagement occurs after the boundary was expanded, rather than before.

The community believes decisions of this scale particularly where they affect productive agricultural land, cultural landscapes and established communities require early, transparent and place-based consultation, not retrospective refinement.

This lack of consultation is a key reason the community is calling for a pause and reassessment of the Central North REZ boundary.

Extremely productive.
Dookie produces 5–8 t/ha of wheat and 3–4 t/ha of canola, placing it among the highest-performing dryland cropping regions in Victoria.

Because it underpins food security, livestock feed, biofuels and low-emissions supply chains.

Three local farms are part of GrainCorp NEXT, a national program involving just 12 farms Australia-wide.

The absence of mapped sites does not mean an absence of cultural heritage.
Current mapping relies on coarse geological data that does not capture greenstone outcrops, chert sources, prior streams or landscape-scale cultural values.
There are recorded heritage sites in the region, and many more are likely undocumented due to lack of survey.

No.
There has been no comprehensive on-ground cultural heritage assessment across the REZ footprint.
Planning decisions are being made using incomplete data.

The REZ overlaps Brolga habitat, wetlands and natural floodways.
Changes to water movement following channel decommissioning have not been assessed, and no cumulative hydrology study has been undertaken.

Natural floodways cross the Dookie plains.
Large-scale infrastructure risks blocking or redirecting flows, increasing localised flooding and damaging crops, soils and ecosystems.

The region supports Mount Major, the Dookie Rail Trail, silo art trail, canola tourism, cycling events, events and wedding industry.

No visual impact assessment has been completed from Mount Major or other key viewpoints, despite the scale of proposed infrastructure.

No.
This campaign supports renewable energy done responsibly in locations that do not undermine food security, cultural heritage, biodiversity or regional economies.

•  Accurate mapping

• Proper cultural and environmental assessment

• Cumulative impact analysis

• Meaningful consultation

• REZ placement in lower-impact areas

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