THE State Government had been autocratic in giving AEMO “bulldozer powers” to push ahead without proper analysis.
Victorian Farmers’ Federation president Emma Germano on Tuesday slammed the Government steamroller approach to Loddon farmers.
Ms Germano said Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio was using “extreme powers to come over the top of farming communities and force transmission towers to be built on their land”.
“Farmers are being ignored by the Andrews Government in the planning for renewable energy and transmission development across the state,” she said.
“The VFF called on the Government to put a pause on these projects, take over their planning and get the policy settings right so communities are respected, and landholder rights are protected.
“Instead, they have done the complete opposite by giving AEMO unfettered powers to send the bulldozers over our farms.
“The minister is using autocratic powers to rush these projects meaning there is no requirement for a cost benefit analysis or competitive tender. Victoria’s energy rules aren’t just broken, they’re rotten.”
Ms Germano said Option 5A had included new communities to transmission development without consultation.
“Yet again, the Government has allowed AEMO to announce a new transmission route in the dead of the night, without one jot of consultation with the farmers that could be impacted.
“The minister’s order states that she has consulted with the Premier, the Treasurer and AEMO. Nowhere does it say she has consulted with the farming communities that will be impacted by these projects.”