A PLANNED battery energy storage system (BESS) has been proposed in Doreen, with the Nillumbik Shire Council making a statement saying it is still working on a position on the proposal.
Residents were made aware of the proposal last Tuesday, with the Middle Hut BESS project developed by Turnbull Renewables – chaired by former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
The Nillumbik Shire Council made a statement last Thursday.
“Council is aware of a proposal to develop a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on land in Middle Hut Road, Doreen. A planning permit application is expected to be lodged with the Minister for Planning next month seeking approval for the project,” they said.
“The site is located in the Green Wedge Zone, is partially affected by Environmental Significance Overlay Schedule 1 (ESO1), and is within a designated bushfire prone area and an area of aboriginal cultural heritage sensitivity.
“This proposal will not be assessed through a Nillumbik planning permit application. Instead, it is expected to be considered by the Minister for Planning under the Significant Economic Development provisions (Clause 53.22 of the Nillumbik Planning Scheme).
“As part of that process, the application will likely be referred to Council for comment.
“The proposal will need to be publicly advertised, giving residents and other interested parties an opportunity to make a submission or object. Those submissions will be considered as part of the Minister’s assessment.
“The final decision will be made by the Minister for Planning. There are no third-party appeal rights for either Council or the community in relation to the Minister’s decision under this process.
“Council has not formed a position on the proposal at this stage. Any submission from Council would be based on an assessment of the application and supporting technical reports once they are formally referred to Council.”
On Middle Hut BESS’s website, they said it was a carefully selected site.
“The site has been strategically selected as one of the few sites along the existing high-voltage transmission lines, with suitable environmental conditions, within proximity of Melbourne,” the website reads.
“Located approximately 30 km northeast of Melbourne’s CBD, the site has been strategically selected to store and dispatch energy to metropolitan Melbourne. This site is one of the only parcels of land that sits as close as possible to Melbourne – Victoria’s major electricity use centre.
“Siting the battery here avoids the need for new transmission lines through a connection directly to the existing 220kV line which bisects the site. This reduces the environmental and visual impact of the project as no new overground transmission lines will need to be constructed.
“The site is also strategically located away from the main residential portion of Doreen.”
A community drop-in session is proposed for Saturday, August 29 at Arthurs Creek Community Centre from 2pm to 6pm.
“The project team is keen to meet with surrounding neighbours of the Middle Hut BESS, as well as residents and interested groups to explain the proposal and receive preliminary feedback,” Middle Hut BESS wrote on its website.
“We will be hosting a Community Drop-In Session in August 2026. This presents an opportunity to make initial comments and have those considered in the planning application, which is currently being prepared. We expect to submit the planning application in September 2026.
“Come by to learn more about the Proposal, view plans, meet the project team and ask any questions you might have. No RSVP required. Light refreshments provided.”
