Ensuring Loddon Shire is prepared
Published on 26 March 2026
Loddon Shire Council has been at the forefront of ensuring its residents best interests are protected in the face of a wave of proposed renewable energy and mining projects, and a new report sets out a roadmap of how that might be achieved.
The Resource Ready: North-Western Victoria Energy and Mining Impact and Readiness Strategy was commissioned by nine councils, including Loddon Shire, to provide a comprehensive analysis of these projects.
Loddon Shire Mayor Dan Straub said the purpose of the report was to assess the region’s readiness for what was being imposed on it.
“It’s important to note we aren’t the decision makers for whether these projects go ahead or not and we are not supporting or opposing any individual project,” he said.
“But what we do have is the ability to prepare our community for both positive and negative impacts. We want to maximise the positives and minimise the negatives.
“We need to ensure that we are ready to deal with any potential outcomes, be they positive or negative, with our community’s best interests in mind.
“It’s a debate we’ve been in for a long time – you only have to look at our stance in the likes of the VNI West project – and we are in it for our community and landowners.
“This report reflects our commitment to planning and preparing for our region, and it is a planning tool that lays the groundwork for future engagement.
“There are a lot of challenges identified but the most important and crucial one for us is how it will affect our agricultural sector, which is by far the largest economic driver for Loddon Shire.
“The other impacts are also important – if these projects are approved by the state or federal governments, the construction jobs will create an influx of people here and when they leave there could be many ongoing roles.
“How do we plan for housing and infrastructure to support those, both during construction and after it?
“If managed properly some of these projects could deliver us lasting benefits – but only if support is in place.
“We have decided to do this work jointly because the impacts of these projects cross council boundaries, making joint advocacy essential for the region. We also know that working collaboratively will have more impact and is more economical.
“The report calls for proper investment and due diligence from state and federal governments so that we can take action now to ensure our communities are ready for the benefits and challenges that we may see in coming years."
It covers 58,503 square kilometres, or about one-quarter of Victoria and assesses $27.7 billion in planned transmission, renewable energy and mining projects, and identifies the significant workforce demands required – including 9,100 construction jobs and 2,300 ongoing operational roles, along with critical related challenges such as severe housing shortages, labour constraints, infrastructure pressures and the potential impact on the agricultural sector.
The report proposes 44 evidence-based actions across eight priority themes, including community readiness, infrastructure, housing, workforce planning, and agricultural protection.
“We are now asking governments to fund and implement the recommendations in the report,” Cr Straub said.
This includes:
• Formalising and standardising community benefit schemes to maximise value and reduce duplication across projects.
• A Regional Worker Housing Plan to identify key locations and types of housing for expected construction periods.
• Prioritising vocational training to support the skills needed for energy and mining projects.
• Implementing innovative approaches to training and retraining to increase participation and match existing skills to new opportunities.
• Undertaking an agriculture impact assessment so that farming interests are protected and cumulative impacts are understood.
• Embedding economic development objectives in approvals for energy and mining projects to support local businesses.
• Providing secure, prompt funding to address compliance costs linked to mining and renewable energy transition.
• Ensuring we are actively involved in both the Economic Transition and Community Benefit Funds.