Landholders and community

Environment Effects Statement

In 2024, the Minister for Planning declared a Public Works Order for the Gippsland offshore wind 2 GW transmission project under the Environment Effects Act 1978. It requires VicGrid to prepare an Environment Effects Statement (EES) – a comprehensive study to assess the project’s potential environmental, social, economic and cultural impacts.

The EES process is coordinated through a Bilateral Assessment Agreement between the Victorian and Australian governments. This means the EES will also assess matters of national environmental significance, as required under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act).

At the end of the EES process, the Victorian Minister for Planning will provide an assessment of the project’s impacts. This assessment will be used by both state and federal decision-makers to inform approvals.

Read more about how potential environmental impacts are assessed in the factsheets below.

How Gippsland communities are contributing

Public consultation is a vital part of the EES. Throughout the preparation of the EES, there will be multiple opportunities for you to provide feedback, share your local knowledge, and raise environmental or social concerns.

During March and April 2026, we hosted in-person and online community information sessions about the EES and the studies underway. You can watch a recording of the online sessions at Engage Victoria.

Read our What we heard report below for a summary of the feedback shared during these sessions. Responses to questions from landholders and community members can also be viewed in the Q&A document below.

EES scoping requirements

The scoping requirements outline the environmental matters that will be investigated and documented in the EES. The scoping requirements set out the environmental matters that must be addressed in the EES. They focus on the key issues likely to have the most significant impacts.

• Draft scoping requirements were released for public comment from 20 March to 10 April 2025.
• Following public submissions, the Minister for Planning approved final scoping requirements in June 2025.

To read the final scoping requirements, visit Gippsland offshore wind transmission 2 GW project.

Technical studies

There will be 17 technical studies included as part of the Environmental Effects Statement.

Public Works Order

In August 2024, VicGrid submitted a project outline to the Victorian Minister for Planning. The Minister used it to decide whether the project should be declared public works under the Environment Effects Act 1978 (Vic) (EE Act).

In September 2024, the Minister declared a Public Works Order. This means an Environment Effects Statement (EES) must be prepared for the project. The order also lists excluded works. These early construction works can go ahead before the EES process is complete, once all other approvals are in place, such as a planning permit under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic).

Public Works Order amendments

In September 2026, the Minister approved an amendment to the Public Works Order. The amended order was published in the Victorian Government Gazette on 7 October 2026.

The amendment adds two activities to the excluded works. Both are within the existing Loy Yang Power Station precinct:

• Installing new switchyard equipment, including two new 500-kilovolt (kV) bays and associated connection works within the existing Loy Yang switchyard.
• Setting up a temporary construction compound and laydown area on land associated with the existing Loy Yang Power Station. This includes ground preparation, access track and drainage works, temporary portable buildings and offices, site sheds, amenities, fencing, parking and minor utility connections.

The amendment also makes minor wording to describe parts of the project more clearly. These changes don't materially change the project's scope.

The Minister is satisfied these works will not have a significant effect on the environment and that they can go ahead before the EES process is complete. The works can only start once all other approvals are in place.

The EES will continue to assess the broader project, including the combined effects of the excluded works and the project. The excluded works do not pre-empt the EES outcome.

You can read the amended order and the Minister's reasons on the Department of Transport and Planning website.

Where to learn more

• Visit Victorian Department of Transport and Planning to learn more about the EES process.
• Visit Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water to view information about environmental referrals and decisions under the EPBC Act.
• Sign up to our newsletter to be notified when public submissions open during the EES exhibition period.

Page last updated: 22/10/26