Transgrid
Engagement to support early development and approvals for VNI West
Client | Transgrid
Service | Stakeholder and community engagement, approvals strategy, communications
Duration | 2023 - 2026
Sectors | Energy transmission, energy renewables, regional infrastructure
‘Beatrice has become an integral part of the communications and stakeholder engagement. She is professional and authentic in her approach to work and engages well within the client setting.’
-Nathan Menser, Community and Stakeholder Manager, VNI West (May 2026)
Project Overview
Victoria to NSW Interconnector West (VNI West) is a proposed new 500 kV double circuit transmission line connecting the high voltage electricity grids in New South Wales and Victoria. Transgrid and VicGrid are jointly developing the project, which will connect major projects including EnergyConnect in NSW and Western Renewables Link in Victoria. We supported Transgrid on stakeholder and community engagement for VNI West, working across early project development and through a complex environmental approvals process.
Our approach
We worked closely with Transgrid to provide support during project development and throughout the environmental assessment process, focused on early, transparent engagement designed to reduce project risk and meet regulatory requirements. Our approach ensured stakeholders had clear and meaningful opportunities to provide input, creating a direct line of sight between engagement, project development and planning documentation. We designed this approach to strengthen the quality and defensibility of key planning documents, support informed decision-making and build community understanding of the project.
What we delivered
We delivered end-to-end engagement support across key project milestones, including providing project management support during route selection, drafting the initial community investment and benefits plan and engagement support during EIS preparation, exhibition and amendment stages.
This included planning for and delivering community information sessions, coordinated stakeholder engagement activities and developed reporting that clearly captured feedback and how it was addressed.
We also established and managed the Community Consultative Group recruiting and selecting the group, issuing invitations, developing and coordinating presentation inputs, liaising with participants, taking detailed notes and tracking and managing actions arising from meetings.
Impact
Our work enabled Transgrid to deliver a robust and well-coordinated engagement program that met Department of Planning expectations. We clearly captured and addressed community and stakeholder feedback, strengthening the defensibility of planning documents. This supported improved transparency, built community understanding of the project and enabled constructive dialogue between Transgrid, stakeholders and the community throughout the approvals process.