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Goorambat East Solar Farm
The proposed Goorambat East Solar Farm is a renewable energy development located about 12 kilometres north of Benalla and just south of the Goorambat township in Victoria, on the land of the Yorta Yorta people.
ENGIE entered into a commercial arrangement with Neoen to purchase the project in 2023 and have been progressing steadily towards construction.
The site is about 630 hectares across five private rural properties in the Benalla Rural City Council local government area and is primarily accessible from the Goorambat-Chesney Road, Spinks Lane and Saunders Road.
The project involves the construction, commissioning and operation of an up to 250 Megawatt (MW) solar farm that aims to provide affordable and reliable, clean energy for Victorian homes and businesses. Up to 200 jobs are expected to be created during the peak of construction.
A planning permit for the solar PV array and connection assets was approved in December 2019 by Benalla Rural City Council.
Overview
Location: Goorambat, Victoria
Maximum Capacity: 250 MWac
Features
- Up to 500,000 Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels
- Stationed across an area of 630 hectares
- Construction completion expected in 2026
- Generating electricity expected in 2027
Contact us
Ph 1800 845 067
Email [email protected]
Project highlights
- The Goorambat East Solar Farm will have a generating capacity of up to 250 MW, which is enough to power up to 105,000 average Victorian homes.
- The Project will help displace emissions by up to 558,000 tonnes of co₂ each year.
- The solar farm will connect to a newly built Goorambat East Terminal Station, to be located alongside the existing single circuit 220kV transmission line route between Shepparton Terminal Station (SHTS) and Dederang Terminal Station (DDTS)
Fact sheets
Timeline
Vegetation screening – June 2024
Construction commences – October 2024
Peak construction – December 2024 to November 2025
Commissioning - Mid 2026
Ongoing operations – from 2027
Community benefits
Nationwide, the transition to a greater mix of low emission renewable energy sources can provide cleaner energy for households and businesses.
For the local community, Goorambat East Solar Farm couldwill provide a range of direct and indirect benefits including:
- Community benefit fund
- Employment and contractor opportunities.
- Financial contribution towards the Goorambat 5G mobile tower.
As the project progresses and in consultation with the community, additional opportunities to provide benefits to the local community will be developed.
Community Benefit Fund
As part of the Goorambat East Solar Farm project, ENGIE has committed to providing $75,000 per year to the local community for the life of the project (~30 years) upon the solar farm becoming operational.
This fund is intended to be run by the community, for the community but needs to be designed to ensure that it is structured, governed, and administered in a legal and equitable way.
As the construction of the solar farm progresses, community will be invited to provide input into how this fund is structured, how funds will be distributed and how the fund will be managed both now and into the future.
Community Engagement
Thank you to all the community members who have attended our community drop-in sessions held in Goorambat. It has been great to meet so many local residents.
If you missed these sessions and would like to find out more, the team is available to answer questions over the phone on 1800 845 067 or by emailing [email protected]
Where did this project originate?
The Goorambat East Solar Farm project was envisaged by a group of local residents who identified their land as being ideal for a solar farm.
How does solar power work?
Read our article: How does solar power work?
Will there be employment and supply opportunities during construction?
The Goorambat Solar Farm project is expected to create up to 200 jobs.
The head contractor will be responsible for subcontracting a range of skills and suppliers. As part of our key objectives for the project, ENGIE will continue to work closely with the head contractor to ensure the delivery and quality of opportunities for local and First Nations peoples and suppliers.
When will construction on the solar farm begin?
Early works began in March 2024 and were completed in June 2024. The first construction to occur will be the external road upgrades and internal roads which are expected to bring in the 3rd quarter of 2024. The installation of solar panels is expected to begin early 2025.
Your feedback
Our community and stakeholders provide valuable feedback that helps shape our work. We appreciate hearing from you on what we are doing well and where we haven’t met the mark, so that we can take ownership and improve.
Our Community & Stakeholder Feedback Framework details our approach to feedback and how we manage complaints.
FAQs
1. What feedback can I provide?
You can provide feedback about ENGIE operational assets and our asset development projects. If your feedback relates to other ENGIE activities, including our retail and residential energy solutions, please visit our contact us page.
At ENGIE Renewables Development, we define feedback as any communication we receive from you. Types of feedback include:
| Comments, which can be either positive or negative but do not require further action. | |
| Enquiries, which are neither positive nor negative but require further action. | |
| Complaints, which are negative and typically require a response or resolution. |
2. How can I provide feedback?
You can provide feedback by:
- sending an email to [email protected]
- calling our dedicated projects phone line on 1800 845 067 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
- talking to us in person
If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, you can use the National Relay Service to provide your feedback. If English is not your first language, you may use the National Translating and Interpreting Service. We accept feedback from other people on your behalf.
3. How will my feedback be dealt with?
All feedback will be recorded and dealt with according to our five guiding principles:
- Fairness: You will be treated fairly. If your feedback is negative and handled as a complaint, our actions and decisions will be respectful, impartial, and evidence-based.
- Transparency: Information about how to provide feedback is published on our website, with open and honest feedback sought.
- Accountability: We treat all feedback as an opportunity for continuous improvement.
- Accessibility: Feedback can be provided verbally over the phone or in person; or in writing by letter, email or online form.
- Responsiveness: If a response is required, we will reply courteously and within our stated timeframes, and we will keep you informed about the progress of a complaint.
4. How will my feedback, including complaints, be managed?
Feedback, including complaints, will be managed through our feedback process.
5. What if I am not happy with the outcome of my complaint?
If you believe your complaint isn’t adequately resolved, you can ask us to escalate the matter to a staff member at a higher level within our organisation, who will work with you to investigate further and find a solution.
If the complaint still isn’t resolved to your satisfaction, we suggest you contact the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner or your local ombudsman.
Phone: 1800 451 524
Phone: 1800 068 908
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6. How is my personal information handled?
Personal information that identifies individuals will only be disclosed or used by ENGIE Renewables Development as permitted under the relevant privacy laws, secrecy provisions and any relevant confidentiality obligations.
The ENGIE ANZ Group’s Privacy Policy details our commitment to complying with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act).