Five Key Points

The project is large. Goorambat East is designed for up to 250 MW and may include as many as 500,000 solar panels.
Approval did not mean immediate construction. The project received its permit in December 2022, reached financial close in August 2024 and is expected to complete construction and commissioning during 2026.
Community questions continued after approval. Residents later sought clearer answers about the timing, governance and eligibility rules for the Community Benefit Fund.
The planning permit has changed. Amendments were approved in 2025, showing that a project may continue to evolve after its original approval.
The real test is delivery. Jobs, community funding, environmental management and ongoing consultation should be measured against what was promised.

Project Overview

The Goorambat East Solar Farm is located near Goorambat, north of Benalla. ENGIE says the project will have a generating capacity of up to 250 MW and could generate enough electricity at maximum capacity to power the equivalent of approximately 105,000 average Victorian homes.

The project is also expected to include up to 500,000 solar photovoltaic panels and connect to a newly constructed terminal station beside the existing Shepparton-to-Dederang 220 kV transmission corridor.

ENGIE acquired the project from Neoen in December 2023 and announced financial close in August 2024. Construction and commissioning are expected to be completed during 2026. [oai_citation:0‡ENGIE](https://engie.com.au/about-us/our-generation-activities/solar-farms/goorambat-solar-farm?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

The Planning Timeline

17 December 2021: Planning application received.
21 June 2022: Public notice issued.
8 November 2022: Notice of decision issued.
8 December 2022: Planning permit granted.
December 2023: ENGIE acquired the project from Neoen.
August 2024: Financial close announced.
2024–2026: Construction and commissioning period.
21 May 2025: An amended permit was approved.
17 December 2025: A further permit amendment was approved.

The original permit covered a solar energy facility, battery energy storage, removal of native vegetation and signage. The later amendments demonstrate that even after approval, project design and permit conditions can continue to change. [oai_citation:1‡Planning](https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/planning-approvals/ministerial-permits-register/ministerial-permits/eea7cc66-3a5d-ec11-8f8f-000d3ad0d7d1?SQ_DESIGN_NAME=nodesign&SQ_PAINT_LAYOUT_NAME=drawer&utm_source=chatgpt.com)

What Was Promised?

Public statements about the project highlighted several expected benefits:

Approximately 250 construction jobs.
Employment and contracting opportunities for local and First Nations workers and suppliers.
A Community Benefit Fund worth $75,000 each year for the life of the project, estimated at around 30 years.
A financial contribution towards a new Goorambat 5G mobile tower.
Ongoing community engagement throughout construction and operation.

ENGIE’s current project information says the Community Benefit Fund is administered through Bendigo Bank’s Community Enterprise Foundation with input from a Community Advisory Committee. [oai_citation:2‡ENGIE](https://engie.com.au/about-us/our-generation-activities/solar-farms/goorambat-solar-farm?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

Community Questions Did Not End With Approval

A community information session held during construction attracted questions about the Community Benefit Fund.

According to Dairy News Australia, residents wanted clearer information about:

When the fund would begin.
How it would be structured.
The role of the Community Advisory Committee.
The involvement of Bendigo Bank’s Community Enterprise Foundation.
Which communities and projects would be eligible.

ENGIE advised that the fund would begin once commissioning was complete and the solar farm was operational. This shows why communities need continuing access to information after approval rather than being consulted only during the original planning process. [oai_citation:3‡Dairy News Australia](https://www.dairynewsaustralia.com.au/news/solar-farm-concerns-raised/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

Construction Impacts Were Real and Ongoing

Large solar farms require far more than panels. The project has involved road upgrades, structural piling, transformer deliveries, electrical works, internal access roads, fencing and grid-connection infrastructure.

ENGIE reported that the Saunders Road upgrade had been completed by May 2025, while project newsletters set out standard construction hours and provided updates on site activity. These details matter because nearby residents experience the construction phase directly through traffic, noise, road use and changes to the surrounding landscape. [oai_citation:4‡ENGIE](https://engie.com.au/sites/default/files/2025-03/D1-ENGIE%20Goorambat%20East%20Newsletter%20Feb25.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

What Was Assessed?

The planning application was supported by a substantial collection of technical reports and assessments, including matters relating to:

Agricultural land.
Native vegetation and biodiversity.
Traffic and road access.
Flooding, hydrology and drainage.
Bushfire risk.
Noise.
Landscape and visual impacts.
Cultural heritage.
Social and community impacts.
Environmental management.

The existence of detailed reports does not mean every concern disappears. It means those reports, their assumptions and the resulting permit conditions should remain open to public scrutiny throughout the life of the project. [oai_citation:5‡ENGIE](https://engie.com.au/sites/default/files/2024-07/GESF_Social%20Impact%20Assessment.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

Questions That Still Matter

For communities considering future projects, the Goorambat East experience raises practical questions:

How many promised construction jobs were actually filled by local residents?
How much project expenditure remained within the local economy?
How are planning permit conditions monitored and enforced?
How are complaints recorded, investigated and resolved?
How are environmental commitments checked after construction?
How will the Community Benefit Fund be evaluated over time?
What happens if the project is sold to another owner?
How will decommissioning and rehabilitation ultimately be funded?

Lessons for Future Projects

The Goorambat East Solar Farm demonstrates that approval should never be treated as the end of public accountability.

Communities need:

Clear commitments before approval.
Publicly measurable outcomes after approval.
Transparent reporting during construction and operation.
Accessible complaint and compliance processes.
Ongoing scrutiny of jobs, community benefits and environmental performance.
Early clarity about decommissioning and rehabilitation.

Fair Go for North East Country’s View

Fair Go for North East Country believes major renewable energy projects must be judged not only by the promises made at the planning stage, but by the outcomes delivered over the full life of the project.

Goorambat East provides a useful real-world example. It shows that projects can continue to change after approval, that community questions remain during construction, and that promised benefits require transparent follow-through.

Future developments across North East Victoria should be assessed carefully, monitored openly and held accountable for their commitments to local jobs, productive farmland, the environment and regional communities.

Sources

Victorian Government Ministerial Permit Register — Goorambat East Solar Farm planning application, permit and amendments.
ENGIE Australia — Goorambat East Solar Farm project information, fact sheet, media releases and construction newsletters.
Dairy News Australia — reporting on community concerns about the Community Benefit Fund.
Goorambat East Solar Farm planning, environmental and social-impact documents.

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