1. Gannawarra Shire
KERANG
VICTORIA’S RENEWABLE ENERGY CAPITAL

2. Kerang – Gannawarra Shire
Located in North West Victoria
Typical small rural Shire with an agricultural economy
Utilise our local environmental strengths for better commercial value

3. Policy Scene
extract from Councils Economic Development Strategy – Strategic Direction 5
FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF GANNAWARRA SHIRE AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL LEADER
Economic, climactic and policy influences continue to drive land use

4. High solar resources, infrastructure and land
Why Solar?
High solar resources, infrastructure and land

5. Infrastructure
Kerang has the infrastructure suited to large scale solar
A high capacity terminal station
Transmission network
220kv / 66kv / 22kv
High solar resource
Available land

6. The Journey Begins ……
Involvement with a Solar company in 2008 kick-starts the interest
Huge learning curve with limited support
The overseas experience highlighted the opportunities – Australia was 20 years behind!

7. Overcoming the Policy Gap
Development potential; Why us?
We are small so we provided “exceptional service” – we could control that
We networked with anyone we thought could help. Community groups in central Victoria were helpful.

8. Overcoming the Policy Gap
We needed to develop strong regional partnerships to lobby Government
Renewable energy was a key part of our advocacy strategy
We developed strategic partnerships with Loddon Shire and City of Greater Bendigo
We developed a Solar Power Development strategy with our partners

9. Overcoming the Policy Gap
The change started when the Renewable Energy Target figure (RET) was announced. Our previous work had set us up well and we hit the ground running.
It was a hive of activity as developers sought land close to infrastructure

10. New Policy The RET created the positives
The ARENA announcement for National funding saw NOTHING allocated to Victoria
The negatives again hit the media

11. New Policy
New policy at a State level with a 75MW power tender and a 20MW battery storage tender…… plus others

12. Present situation
9 projects and 5 with permits – others nearly ready to submit
640MW, 4500ac, $1.2B investment

13. Present situation
750 construction jobs & 24 perm jobs – based on 9 projects
$38M construction revenue
Rate revenue, leveraged business revenue, tourism revenue

14. The Future Transform the area as a hub for new energy developments
Base load power, waste to energy
Diversify our local economy
Leverage further business related developments

15. Gannawarra Shire
KERANG –
Victoria’s
RENEWABLE ENERGY CAPITAL