General News
14 April, 2026
Access attempt ‘could come within days’
LAKE Marmal farmer Colin Fenton is braced for VicGrid officials demanding access to his property early next week.
LAKE Marmal farmer Colin Fenton is braced for VicGrid officials demanding access to his property early next week.
Mr Fenton believes he is among 26 property owners hit with compulsory access notices by the State Government agency now responsible for constructing the controversial VNI West renewable energy transmission line.
VicGrid has been granted access to“approximately 40 per cent of the preferred easement to date”.
Mr Fenton and other landowners between Stawell and Kerang remain defiant in granting access despite the threat of compulsory access and fines under new Government legislation.
He said a letter had been received from VicGrid saying it wanted property access and that advice of officials assessments starting could arrive at any time.
“One property owner near Charlton has been given a six-day window of when they will arrive. They expect us to hang around waiting for six days,” Mr Fenton said.
“They’re playing a game with us ... any day now I will get that notice.”
Access visits are expected to start along the route from Monday.
VicGrid Chief Executive Alistair Parker said: “Our strong preference is to work with landholders and agree voluntary access for the work required to plan the project.
“Many landholders have engaged with us and reached agreement, but there are a small number of cases where this hasn’t been possible.
“We will continue to engage respectfully and seek voluntary agreement, but all Victorians are relying on us to deliver this project to keep the lights on.”
VicGrid says it wants access to 26 properties to conduct environmental surveys.
“VicGrid has issued Notices of Proposed Entry to landholders and occupiers associated with 26 properties where voluntary access for critical ecology surveys has not been agreed.
“VicGrid did not seek to enter any properties over the summer holiday period and has not sought to enter any properties in the past month.”
The authority says it continues “to have productive discussions with landholders across the VNI West preferred easement about access for important surveys to inform project design”.
“Access negotiations are at different stages across the easement, with a large number of landholders actively engaging and working through arrangements with the project team.
“To date, the owners of more than 170 properties across the broader project area have agreed to survey access, enabling more than 300 private property surveys to be completed.
“If access is denied, Authorised Officers may issue warnings, directions or infringement notices for refusing, obstructing or unreasonably delaying entry, which may carry a maximum penalty of four penalty units (approximately $800). If voluntary access cannot be agreed and access continues to be blocked, an authorised officer may also apply for a court order for access,” VicGrid said.
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