Wimmera Southern Mallee Collaboration
What is the Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Energy Collaboration?
The Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Energy Collaboration builds on a workshop hosted in Horsham in November 2023, where Wimmera Southern Mallee Development invited representatives from renewable energy and transmission companies working in the region to come 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 benefits directly from the shift to clean energy.
The answer was a resounding yes!
In January 2024, the Collaboration co-design process kicked off, bringing together representatives from government, transmission and renewable energy companies with projects in the region, as well as a number of other supporting organisations, to design a collaboration framework. Fast forward to November 2024 and the partners have solidified their commitment to the Collaboration, having experienced great value in this process. Together they have set some clear, collective commitments that will see them:
- Collaborate to minimise negative impacts from energy development on Wimmera Southern Mallee communities
- Prepare for better engagement, information and insight sharing between energy businesses and Wimmera Southern Mallee communities
- Align and coordinate investment in projects that deliver tangible and lasting community benefits
- Reflect on continuous improvement, transparency and accountability
What’s the outcome?
The 6-month co-design process has resulted in a commitment to the Collaboration Framework, which provides the structure and foundational commitments needed to enable energy businesses to collaborate – and #bettertogether, work with the Wimmera Southern Mallee communities – to ensure long-term community benefits are delivered. This cross-sector partnership places the region’s people at its core, and we are confident also it will provide a template for other communities across Australia.
What's next?
Following the November 2024 workshop, the Collaboration is now in the process of refining a program of Collective Action Projects for 2025. The focus areas are the output of listening and learning from the region – identifying pre-existing challenges such as regional and rural decline, misinformation and confusion around the shift to clean energy, addressing coordination and building better trust in the process. 2025 will be an important year.
Who’s involved in the collaboration?
The Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Energy Collaboration is being coordinated by Wimmera Southern Mallee Development and the Energy Charter.
Collaborators: Energy Charter Full Signatory AusNet Services, Energy Charter Supporter Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), Transmission Company Victoria (TCV), planning authority VicGrid, renewable energy developers BayWa r.e., Cubico Sustainable Investments, RES Group, RWE Renewables Australia, Squadron Energy and WestWind Energy.
Design process supporters: Also supporting the design process is Barengi Gadjin Land Council, Department of Energy, Environment & Climate Action (DEECA), Nexa Advisory, Nine Creeks Consulting, RE-Alliance and Regional Development Victoria.
Independent research
Wimmera Southern Mallee Development is working with the local community to understand, based on evidence, if renewable energy projects will increase or decrease farming profitability and resilience – and if future developments will increase the broader liveability and prosperity of communities in the region.
Head to their website to learn more about the suite of independent research they have engaged.
“Partnerships are challenging, and this collaboration encourages companies to reflect on their engagement practices and, more importantly, improve them. We know that progress can be made, and all partners are committed to working together to make this happen. This partnership exemplifies how effective collaboration can create better outcomes, garner respect and empower communities as equal stakeholders in Australia’s energy future. A partnership done well means we are #BetterTogether.”
Chris Sounness
CEO, Wimmera Southern Mallee Development
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.