The Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal is a proposal to build a facility within the Port of Hastings on Western Port that would serve as a base of operations for the assembly of offshore wind farms.
Victoria’s Minister for Planning has determined that an environmental effects statement (EES) under the Environment Effects Act 1978 (Victoria) is required for this Project, which is led by the Port of Hastings Corporation (PoHC).
The PoHC, as the Project proponent, has announced that works on the EES process is progressing.
With oversight from the Impact Assessment Unit within the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), the Minister appointed a Technical Reference Group (TRG) to provide technical advice to DTP and the proponent. The TRG is made up of government agencies, municipal councils and Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs) that have a statutory, policy, or technical interest in the Terminal project. In summary, the role of the TRG is to:
- provide advice to DTP on matters that should be included in the scoping requirements for the EES and on the adequacy of the studies undertaken by the proponent in response to the scope; and
- provide advice and assistance to the proponent on EES technical studies and EES documentation, as well as on policy and statutory requirements for the project.
The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has been appointed by the Minister as a member of the TRG for the Project.
Despite the Project affecting land and waters within our Shire, Council has no statutory decision-making powers in the EES process for the VRET but is rather a stakeholder in the process.
EES Referral Update
The project is currently progressing through the Scoping Requirements stage of the EES process.
The Scoping Requirements define the matters to be investigated and documented in the EES, including potential impacts on the environment, local communities, cultural heritage, and infrastructure. These requirements will guide the proponent’s technical studies and environmental assessments.
Draft Scoping Requirements were publicly exhibited from 19 November to 11 December 2024. Council provided a submission in response, which can be viewed here: VRET-MPSC-Submission-in-response-to-draft-Scoping-Requirements(PDF, 307KB).
Updated draft Scoping Requirements were subsequently released by the Department of Transport and Planning in early September 2025. This update reflects consideration of public comments on the earlier draft and incorporates matters arising from the recent EPBC Act determination, which classified the project as a Controlled Action to be assessed under the bilateral agreement between the Commonwealth and the State of Victoria. The updated draft Scoping Requirements were publicly exhibited for community comment from 3 – 24 September 2025.
Council officers lodged a submission in response to the updated draft on 24 September 2025. The submission outlines key concerns and recommendations regarding project description, potential environmental impacts, and assessment requirements. The submission was formally endorsed by Council at its meeting on 5 November 2025. A copy of the lodged submission can be viewed here: VRET MPSC Submission in response to Updated Draft Scoping Requirements(PDF, 387KB).
Once finalised by the Victorian Minister for Planning, the Scoping Requirements are anticipated to be publicly released by mid-October. The proponent will then prepare the EES for formal exhibition and public comment.
For more information on the EES process, visit the Department of Transport and Planning website via the ‘VRET EES Referral’ in the sidebar.
EPBC Referral Update
Alongside the EES process, the VRET project has been referred under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) to assess potential impacts on nationally significant environmental areas. The referral is EPBC Number: 2025/10224.
An initial referral in 2023 resulted in a Federal Ministerial decision that the project would have ‘unacceptable impacts’, particularly on the Ramsar-listed Western Port wetlands and migratory bird species protected under international agreements. In response, the proponent revised the project design and undertook additional environmental studies. The revised design includes a 35% reduction in the proposed reclamation footprint (i.e. 29 hectares reduced to 18) and 70% reduction in dredging volumes.
A revised EPBC Act referral reflecting the updated project design was submitted to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) in June 2025. It was open for public comment from 25 June to 16 July 2025, seeking feedback on whether the project should be classified as a Controlled Action.
On 28 July 2025, DCCEEW determined that the VRET project is a Controlled Action, meaning it is likely to have a significant impact on Matters of National Environmental Significance MNES) and must therefore undergo environmental assessment under the EPBC Act before it can proceed.
The Controlled Action determination is based on potential impacts on three MNES:
- Western Port Ramsar wetland (under sections 16 and 17B of the EPBC Act);
- Listed threatened species and ecological communities (sections 18 and 18A); and
- Listed migratory species (sections 20 and 20A).
The project will be assessed under the bilateral agreement between the Commonwealth and the State of Victoria, which accredits the Victorian Environment Effects Statement (EES) process to serve as the assessment process for the purposes of the EPBC Act. The bilateral agreement allows for a single, integrated assessment process to be undertaken by the Victorian Government. This removes duplication between State and Federal processes and ensures that environmental matters relevant to both jurisdictions are considered concurrently.
Council lodged a submission to DCCEEW on 11 July 2025, recommending the project be determined a Controlled Action to support a comprehensive and transparent assessment of potential environmental impacts. The Federal decision aligns with Council’s recommendation. Council’s submission can be viewed here: VRET-MPSC-Submission-to-2025-EPBC-Act-Referral-Signed-Letterhead.pdf(PDF, 356KB)
Please note, this assessment process is managed by the Commonwealth Government – not Council. Further details are available via ‘VRET EPBC Referral’ in the sidebar.