Two Renewable Energy Zones have been finalised for Gippsland. Where are they and what does it mean for locals?

The Victorian government has locked in the state’s six Renewable Energy Zones (REZ), including two in Gippsland.

What’s an REZ? An REZ is an area identified by the government to either host solar, wind, hydro or battery storage facilities.

Where are the two Gippsland zones?

• The Gippsland REZ is located between Morwell and Sale, and includes parts of Wellington Shire, Latrobe City and South Gippsland councils.

• The Gippsland Shoreline REZ will not host clean energy projects. Instead, the underground cables required for the offshore wind industry to connect turbines to the grid will be located there.

A smoother transition: Tony Goodfellow, the policy and engagement manager at RE-Alliance, a non-profit advocating for better renewables in the regions, told the Monitor REZs were “not a silver bullet”. 

“They are a chance to move from a contested, project-by-project rollout to a more planned transition that sets clearer expectations for developers and delivers more lasting benefits for regional communities,” he said.

What if you live in an REZ? Goodfellow said individual landowners would still be able to decide whether to host and earn income from a renewable energy project.

• “Being in a REZ does not mean every property will host infrastructure, and it does not bypass existing planning or environmental approvals,” he said.

• Communities will also still have a say on proposals, while developments will need to go through relevant assessment procedures.