Housing & planning · Nillumbik Shire Council
21 speakers address committee over proposed Doreen battery project
The Planning and Consultation Committee heard concerns about the proposed Battery Energy Storage System on Middle Hut Road, but did not decide whether it should proceed.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
The minutes list 21 people who addressed Nillumbik Shire Council’s Planning and Consultation Committee on 10 November about a proposed Battery Energy Storage System on Middle Hut Road, Doreen. The committee resolved to hear the submissions and note the issues raised, but made no decision on the project.
The speakers included representatives of the Arthurs Creek Green Wedge Alliance, Friends of Nillumbik Inc, Arthurs Creek District Landcare Group, Arthurs Creek Mechanics Institute and the Nillumbik Ratepayers Association. The list contains 23 speaking entries because Peter Nankervis and Barbara Marshall each appear twice, including once each on behalf of another person. The public minutes do not reproduce the substance of individual submissions.
The report before the committee said the proposal was being discussed before a formal planning permit application had been lodged. It said the proponent had indicated an application was expected to be lodged directly with the Minister for Planning in late October 2026, while also recording that no formal application had been lodged when the report was prepared.
Under the pathway described in the report, an application would be assessed by the Department of Transport and Planning rather than Nillumbik council under clause 53.22 of the Nillumbik Planning Scheme, subject to eligibility criteria. Public notice and referral requirements would still apply, but the report said there would be no objector or council review rights and that a ministerial decision could not be appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The report said the community would have a further formal opportunity to provide feedback through the public notice process once an application was submitted to the Minister. The minutes record no approval, refusal, construction timetable, cost or commitment to build the BESS.
What deserves a closer look
The recorded BESS resolution was limited to hearing and noting submissions; it did not determine whether the project would proceed.
The numbered speakers list has 23 entries but names 21 distinct people. Peter Nankervis and Barbara Marshall each appear twice.
The application-status statement is expressly tied to the time when the report was prepared and does not establish whether an application was lodged later.
Questions for follow-up reporting
Was a planning permit application lodged with the Minister after the report was prepared or after the 10 November meeting?
If an application is submitted, when and where would public notice be published?
What issues did the individual speakers raise in their submissions?
What happens next
If an application is submitted under the pathway described in the report, public notice and referral requirements would apply.
If an application is submitted to the Minister, the report says the community would have a further formal opportunity to provide feedback through public notice.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The supplied document identifies itself as minutes of Nillumbik Shire Council's Planning and Consultation Committee meeting held on 10 November 2026.
Planning and Consultation Committee Meeting held at the Council Chamber, 32 Civic Drive, Greensborough on Tuesday 10 November 2026 commencing at 7:00 PM. Minutes Carl Cowie Chief Executive Officer Friday 13 November 2026 Distribution: Public Civic Drive, Greensborough PO Box 476, Greensborough 3088 Telephone 9433 3111 Facsimile 9433 3777 Website www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au Email nillumbik@nillumbik.vic.gov.au Planning and Consultation Committee Meeting Minutes 10 November 2026 Nillumbik Shire Council Contents 1.
Document title and meeting details
Open original minutes ↗The report described a proposed BESS on Middle Hut Road, Doreen, and said it was being presented to give community members an opportunity to outline concerns.
Officers' reports PCC.010/26 Proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Middle Hut Road, Doreen Cr Grant Brooker (Chairperson Planning Matters) assumed the chair. Item: Planning Matter Distribution: Public Manager: Derek Rotter, Chief Operating Officer Author: Amanda Kern, Manager Strategic Planning, Transport and Environment Summary This matter is being reported to the Planning and Consultation Committee to provide community members with the opportunity to outline their concerns regarding an upcoming Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project on Middle Hut Road in Doreen.
PCC.010/26, report summary
Open original minutes ↗The report said the proponent expected to lodge an application directly with the Minister for Planning in late October 2026, but no formal application had been lodged when the report was prepared.
The proponent has indicated that an application is expected to be lodged directly with the Minister for Planning in late October 2026. At the time of preparing this report, no formal application to the Minister for Planning has been lodged.
PCC.010/26, report summary
Open original minutes ↗The speakers list contains 23 entries for 21 distinct speakers, including representatives of local organisations; Peter Nankervis and Barbara Marshall each appear twice, including once each on behalf of another person.
The following people addressed the Committee with respect to this item: 1 Jenny Lau 2 Gareth Davies on behalf of Arthurs Creek Green Wedge Alliance 3 William Desmond 4 Don Vincent on behalf of Friends of Nillumbik Inc. Planning and Consultation Committee Minutes 10 November 2026 6. Officers' reports PCC.010/26 Proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Middle Hut Road, Doreen 8 5 Malcolm Cock 6 Tracey Sly, Secretary on behalf of the Arthurs Creek Cemetery 7 Bronwyn Hodges 8 Sarah Hunter 9 Natalie Eckersall, Secretary on behalf Arthurs Creek District Landcare Group 10 Peter Nankervis, President on behalf of Arthurs Creek Mechanics Institute Inc 11 Peter Nankervis on behalf of Lois Stubley 12 Barbara Marshall 13 Barbara Marshall on behalf of Janina Karolos 14 James Hunter 15 Colette Apted 16 Brian Murray on behalf of Nillumbik Ratepayers Association Inc 17 Colin Murphy 18 Alison Macmillan Riggs 19 Megan Cochran 20 Caron Nelson 21 Abigail Kalika 22 Mary McDonald 23 Helen Lazenkas Committee Resolution MOVED: Cr Naomi Joiner SECONDED: Cr Peter Perkins That the Committee (under delegation from Council): 1.
PCC.010/26, speakers list
Open original minutes ↗The minutes record a carried resolution to hear submissions on the proposed BESS and note the views, issues and matters raised.
17 Colin Murphy 18 Alison Macmillan Riggs 19 Megan Cochran 20 Caron Nelson 21 Abigail Kalika 22 Mary McDonald 23 Helen Lazenkas Committee Resolution MOVED: Cr Naomi Joiner SECONDED: Cr Peter Perkins That the Committee (under delegation from Council): 1. Hears submissions from community members and stakeholders regarding the proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) development. 2. Notes the views, issues and matters raised through the submission process. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Planning and Consultation Committee Minutes 10 November 2026 7. Supplementary and urgent business Nil 8. Confidential reports Nil 9. Close of Meeting The meeting closed at 8.47pm.
PCC.010/26, committee resolution and outcome
Open original minutes ↗The report said an application, once submitted, would be assessed by the Department of Transport and Planning rather than council under clause 53.22 of the Nillumbik Planning Scheme, where eligibility criteria must be met.
The planning permit application, once submitted, will not be assessed by Council. It will be assessed by the Department of Transport and Planning under Clause 53.22 (Significant Economic Development) of the Nillumbik Planning Scheme, where certain eligibility criteria must be met.
PCC.010/26, report summary
Open original minutes ↗The report described public notice and referral requirements and said there would be no objector or council review rights, meaning a decision by the Minister for Planning could not be appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Applications under this provision are still required to undertake public notice and are still subject to the referral requirements set out in the Planning and Environment Act 1987. Critically, there are no objector or Council review rights, meaning any decision made by the Minister for Planning cannot be appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
PCC.010/26, report summary
Open original minutes ↗The report said the community would have a future formal opportunity to provide feedback through public notice once an application was submitted to the Minister for Planning.
Council acknowledges the substantial community interest in this project and acknowledges the concerns raised by the public and residents. As Council is not the decision maker for this type of application under the Nillumbik Planning Scheme, both Council and the wider community will have a future formal opportunity to provide feedback and outline any concerns through the public notice process once an application is submitted to the Minister for Planning.
PCC.010/26, report summary
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the supplied, unconfirmed public minutes of Nillumbik Shire Council’s Planning and Consultation Committee meeting on 10 November 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- The Planning and Consultation Committee considered the proposed BESS in Middle Hut Road, Doreen, on 10 November 2026.
- The committee’s resolution says it heard and noted submissions from community members and stakeholders.
- The minutes list 21 people across 23 speaking entries, with Peter Nankervis and Barbara Marshall each listed twice.
- The report says no formal planning permit application had been lodged with the Minister at the time it was prepared.
- The report says the Department of Transport and Planning, not council, would assess an application under clause 53.22, subject to eligibility criteria.
- The minutes record no approval, refusal, deferral, construction timetable or cost for the project.
Why it matters
- The minutes record community concerns about a proposed development in Doreen, while the report describes a planning process led by the Minister for Planning rather than a council determination.