Agriculture
10 September, 2023
350 in path corridor: new map close
HUNDREDS of farmers will be in the path of VNI West’s draft corridor to be released this month. Australian Energy Market Operator on Tuesday confirmed “around 350 landholders” were being contacted by Transmission Company Victoria. It is the...
HUNDREDS of farmers will be in the path of VNI West’s draft corridor to be released this month.
Australian Energy Market Operator on Tuesday confirmed “around 350 landholders” were being contacted by Transmission Company Victoria.
It is the first time AEMO has confirmed the number of landholders whose land could fall under transmission lines to be built between Stawell and Kerang for the controversial project.
“Our land team is currently attempting to contact around 350 landholders,” a TCV spokesperson said.
“Where we are not able to reach people, we will mail a letter of introduction in coming weeks.
“TCV is aiming to make the draft corridor public in September, after we have spoken to as many landholders possible.
“We are attempting to contact landholders via phone, where we can obtain a current/publicly available number.”
There were reports last week of a stand-off between one landowner and TCV representatives near Stawell as the proposed route for the Victorian-New South Wales renewable energy transmission line is refined to a draft corridor up to 1km wide.
The TCV spokesperson said: “If the landholder is open to a meeting, the landholder liaison will arrange a time and date at the landholder’s convenience.
“Landholders can have a second person present, they just need to let their landholder liaison know.”
And TCV has also confirmed 15 people applied to be part of its community reference group.
The spokesperson said TCV was contacting “the 15 individuals who put their names forward to participate in the group”.
“Details of the group members will be provided closer to the date of the first meeting.”
TCV last week said the group would hold its first meeting this month.
In Federal Parliament on Monday, Mallee MP Anne Webster spoke about last month’s protest rally on the steps on Victoria’s Parliament House last month.
“One sight we didn’t see was regional Labor politicians. People in my electorate were intensely disappointed they did not stand with their communities,” she said.
“Renewables are their priority, not the threat to production of food and fibre for Australia and the world.
“My constituents are deeply distressed by the new VNI West route selected by the Australian Energy Market Operator functioning as Transmission Company Victoria.
“Social licence has not been given by Mallee people, but Labor is disgracefully ploughing ahead anyway.
“They dishonestly pit neighbour against neighbour, dividing communities.
“They are disingenuous about the cost and the harm to the environment, wildlife and long-term productivity in their anxiety to get the job done,” Dr Webster told Parliament.