General News
2 December, 2023
AEMO community group four remain a mystery
THE VNI West community reference group met for a second time on Monday with four members still a mystery. Transmission Company Victoria had delayed naming members of the group appointed to raise community concerns and questions on the controversial...
THE VNI West community reference group met for a second time on Monday with four members still a mystery.
Transmission Company Victoria had delayed naming members of the group appointed to raise community concerns and questions on the controversial renewable energy transmission line project.
The application process had not included permission to release names to the public and was criticised by then Loddon Mayor Dan Straub for lacking transparency.
TCV, the Victorian project arm of Australian Energy Market Operator, this week confirmed that Quambatook farmer Brett Hosking and St Arnaud’s Colin Coates had now been appointed to the reference group along with 11 others earlier named.
Mr Hosking was Victorian Farmers Federation’ grains group president from 2013 to 2017 and chair of Grain Growers Australia from 2018 to 2022. He was appointed to the board of national advocacy group Farmers for Climate Action in June.
A TCV spokesperson said: “The group currently contains a total of 17 community members representing a broad range of locations across the draft corridor.”
The group was to meet TCV and technical experts on Monday although no details of discussions have been released.
TCV said there remained three vacancies on the group.
The VNI West draft corridor captures prime irrigation land across the northern end of the Loddon Shire.
TCV has spent most of November conducting aerial surveys to collect light detection and range data and imaging to build a three-dimensional map of the draft corridor. Talks are also continuing with landholders.