LESS than 2,500 signatures are needed by July 1 to have the Dookie community’s concerns about the Central North Renewable Energy Zone heard in parliament.
Following recent community meetings, local leaders have joined in the call for the State Government to remove Dookie from the Central North REZ before the draft declaration order is issued.
Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell and Member for Shepparton District Kim O’Keeffe both attended recent VicGrid meetings alongside hundreds of attendees from Dookie and surrounding areas.
“Across the three sessions held, more than 500 people have attended to raise their concerns and have their questions answered,” said O’Keeffe. “In the original draft planning process these communities were excluded and now have been blindsided by this inclusion. This has led to significant uncertainty and anxiety amongst the local community.”
“When the final Victorian Transmission Plan was released in August 2025, Goulburn Valley residents were shocked to discover the reduction in size of the original Central North zone to the west of Shepparton was compensated by the creation of an entirely new section of the Central North zone to the east of Shepparton, from Pine Lodge to Glenrowan,” said Ms Lovell.
“Farmers and other stakeholders in the eastern section were not informed on their inclusion in the zone and never had the opportunity to view draft boundaries of the zone, or the opportunity to offer comment and feedback on the land use and landscape values.”
Both local MPs have spoken in parliament supporting the Dookie community, asking the government to listen to their pleas and to remove the area from the renewable energy zone.
Ms Lovell also called on the consultation period to be extended, should the government insist on issuing a draft declaration order that includes Dookie in the zone.
“All over zones had 12 months of early consultation and a four-month window to make submissions on the draft declaration order,” she said. “Residents of Dookie deserve the same amount of time to provide their feedback.”
The Liberal and National Coalition has pledged to pause major transmission projects while a review is conducted into the Victorian Transmission Plan, if elected in November.
To sign the petition, visit: www.protectdookiegoulburnvalley.com/
