General News
9 July, 2023
Access authority application lodged
TRANSMISSION Company Victoria says it will use a land access licence “in exceptional circumstances where we may need it”. The company’s Nicola Falcon said in Boort on Monday night that TCV had applied for a licence but it had yet to be...
TRANSMISSION Company Victoria says it will use a land access licence “in exceptional circumstances where we may need it”.
The company’s Nicola Falcon said in Boort on Monday night that TCV had applied for a licence but it had yet to be granted.
Ms Falcon said TCV would persevere with landholder negotiations for access to land on the Option 5A route.
“We want to work with people, with landholders, to co-exist,” Ms Falcon said.
Ms Falcon said exceptional circumstances could be where 99 landholders had granted access and one had not.
According to Victorian Power Alliance’s Vicki Johnson: “At the present time the Transmission Company Victoria does not have any authority to enter your land without your consent.”
The alliance is campaigning against both VNI West and Western Renewables Link.
“TCV does not have a license from the Essential Services Commission. As a result, it is not authorised under the Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Vic),” Ms Johnson said.
“So, TCV cannot currently exercise land access powers under section 93 of that Act and if they say they can, during any of these information sessions or face-to-face, then that is incorrect.
“Plus, if you don’t sign the $10,000 access agreement you can keep TCV off your land for the foreseeable future.
“The ESC has a comprehensive process for assessing license applications, but they have not yet received a complete application from TCV.
“A complete application must provide an answer to every relevant question in the appropriate form and be accompanied by every document that the ESC requires.
“Once the ESC receives a complete application, there is a comprehensive process for assessing it that includes a period of public consultation. The assessment period takes at least two and a half months but can also take much longer.”