As the Wimmera Southern Mallee (WSM) region prepares for a wave of renewable energy and transmission infrastructure investment, local leaders are determined to ensure the transition brings real, lasting benefits for their communities.
In November 2023, Wimmera Southern Mallee Development (WSMD) led a study tour to the Surat Basin and Toowoomba region of Queensland. This is an area that has already lived through two decades of energy transition. The tour was funded through the Grampians New Energy Taskforce, an RDA Grampians initiative driving the region's transition to a zero-carbon economy.
Representatives from Barengi Gadjin Land Council, regional organisations, state government agencies, and community leaders joined the delegation.
For the WSM region, the trip came at a critical time. The region's economy, traditionally built around agriculture, is now at the centre of Victoria's renewable energy transition. Wind, solar, and transmission projects are being planned across the landscape, and while they promise investment and jobs, they also bring uncertainty and community concern.
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Image: Victoria's Wimmera region.
The Surat Basin tour offered valuable lessons. Twenty years ago, it faced similar challenges as coal seam gas development began reshaping its economy and environment. The WSM delegation heard how, after early tensions and community distrust, collaboration between local government, industry, and the Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise helped rebuild confidence and deliver shared benefits.
Participants identified clear parallels for the WSM region. The study tour reinforced that successful transitions depend on clear communication, coordination, and a shared regional vision. As one delegate put it, "You can't stop change—but you can shape it so that your community benefits."
Inspired by the lessons from Toowoomba and the Surat Basin, WSMD established the Wimmera Southern Mallee Renewable Energy Collaboration in partnership with The Energy Charter. This collaboration brings together energy developers, local government, Traditional Owners, and community representatives to ensure the people of the region remain at the centre of the transition. Its purpose is to build trust, promote accountability, and deliver tangible, place-based benefits that align with community values and priorities. (Further information is available in the Wimmera Southern Mallee Renewable Energy Collaboration case study).
The study tour was more than a learning exercise. It was a chance to build momentum and confidence that the region's renewable future can contribute meaningfully to local prosperity and social wellbeing.
Note: Case study current as at 21 October 2025.