Agriculture
29 October, 2023
Community development fund 'coming in reform measures'
STATE Government reforms on energy transmission infrastructure planning will create a new regional development fund for communities. An Australian Energy Market Operator spokesperson said the fund “will be established for hosting communities of...
STATE Government reforms on energy transmission infrastructure planning will create a new regional development fund for communities.
An Australian Energy Market Operator spokesperson said the fund “will be established for hosting communities of renewable energy infrastructure in and between declared renewable energy zones”.
AEMO was critcised at the Boort community information session on VNI West for lack of information on landholder, neighbour and community compensation packages for the project that will put transmission towers up to 80 metres high on agricultural land between Stawell and Kerang.
The spokesperson told the Loddon Herald last week; “Release of the Victorian Transmission Investment Framework in June aimed to ensure that environmental, land-use, cultural, social factors and social licence are considered early in the planning process for new transmission.
“The Victorian Government is introducing new legislation into Parliament in early 2024 to implement the Victorian Transmission Infrastructure framework to change the way electricity transmission infrastructure in Victoria is planned and developed.”
AEMO’s Transmission Company Victoria was again meeting with landowners in the Loddon Shire last week following release of the VNI West corridor and information sessions.
The corridor covers 540 properties with the spokesperson saying “some additional landholders connected to properties in the corridor were identified through the consultation process”.