General News
1 May, 2023
Bad process rips communities: Littleproud
COMMUNITIES would be ripped apart without a proper planning process for VNI West, federal Nationals leader David Littleproud said on Monday. Mr Littleproud spoke with more than 100 farmers from the Loddon and other areas expected to be impacted by...
COMMUNITIES would be ripped apart without a proper planning process for VNI West, federal Nationals leader David Littleproud said on Monday.
Mr Littleproud spoke with more than 100 farmers from the Loddon and other areas expected to be impacted by the projhect.
But Mr Littleproud said there were potentially other alternatives and called for a Senate inquiry.
“The Nationals believe a Senate enquiry into the transmission lines the Labor Government intends to build is essential, to make sure that renewable projects have the social licence they need to operate in rural communities and that all alternatives are explored.”
Mr Littleproud said the $3.3 billion Victoria to New South Wales internconnector connecting to the Western Renewables Link, would be the biggest expense in the Victorian transmission system in more than 50 years.
“Farmers in the region are understandably outraged and worried about pristine farmland as well as the future of their communities without a proper planning process,” Mr Littleproud said.
“Their decision to rewire the nation and fast-track the project has been done with little consultation and it will rip communities apart when there are potentially other alternatives.
Mallee MP Anne Webster said the project would force new renewable generation where the AEMO previously predicted congestion\ and wastage through spills.
“The AEMO Victorian Planner’s consultation has been tokenistic at best and has raised many questions that are yet to be answered,” Dr Webster said.
“I am deeply concerned for the region and fear Labor is irreversibly ripping up thousands of kilometres of prime farmland and irrigation districts for a project that will have an enormous costblow-out and detrimental consequences with dubious benefit, according to the views of other experts.
“The Nationals firmly believe Labor is making a huge mistake,” Dr Webster told local farmers in Charlton.