Wimmera Southern Mallee Collaboration

What is the Wimmera Southern Mallee Collaboration?

The Wimmera Southern Mallee Collaboration builds on a workshop hosted in Horsham in November 2023, where Wimmera Southern Mallee Development invited representatives from all renewable and transmission companies working in the region together.

The ask was whether these businesses would be willing to work together, and with the Wimmera Southern Mallee community to create genuine partnerships that ensure that the region can genuinely benefit from a transition to renewable energy.

The answer was a resounding yes!

In January 2024, the Wimmera Southern Mallee Collaboration kicked off, bringing 12 energy companies with projects in the region, as well as a number of other supporting organisations, together to design a collaboration framework.

Who’s involved in the collaboration?

The Wimmera Southern Mallee Collaboration program is being coordinated by Wimmera Southern Mallee Development with support from Nine Creeks Consulting and the Energy Charter. 

Collaborators

An inspiring collaboration across Energy Charter Full Signatory AusNet Services, Energy Charter Supporter Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), along with BayWa r.e.Cubico Sustainable InvestmentsMint RenewablesRES GroupRWE Renewables AustraliaSquadron EnergyTransmission Company VictoriaWestWind Energy and VicGrid.

Design process supporters

Also supporting the design process is Barengi Gadjin Land Council, Department of Environment Land, Water & Planning (DELWP), Nexa Advisory, RE-Alliance and Regional Development Victoria.

What’s the outcome?

The 6-month collaboration resulted in the development of a Collaboration Framework for energy businesses working in the Wimmera Southern Mallee. The Collaboration Framework provides the structure and foundational commitments needed to enable energy businesses to collaborate – and #bettertogether, work with the Wimmera community – to ensure community benefits are delivered. We are hopeful this will also provide a template for other communities across Australia!

Martine Holberton

Want to learn more about this initiative?

If you would like to learn more about the Wimmera Southern Mallee Collaboration, please reach out to Martine Holberton, Director, Renewables.