General News
23 April, 2023
Gould on VFF taskforce
MYSIA’S Sue Gould has been appointed to the Victorian Farmers’ Federation energy and transmission taskforce. Formed following release of the Australian Energy Market Operator’s new preferred route through the Loddon Shire, taskforce members...
MYSIA’S Sue Gould has been appointed to the Victorian Farmers’ Federation energy and transmission taskforce.
Formed following release of the Australian Energy Market Operator’s new preferred route through the Loddon Shire, taskforce members met for the first time on Friday.
“The taskforce agreed to call on the Victorian Government to slow down the progress of transmission projects, so a state-wide plan for renewable energy generation and transmission can be developed,” Mrs Gould said.
“Taskforce members shared their outrage over the way that farmers and regional communities are being treated in the planning processes for transmission infrastructure.
“Members also supported the need for energy companies and government to look at all alternatives, including the undergrounding of powerlines, to minimise disruption to agricultural production and regional communities.
“The taskforce agreed to undertake further investigation into policy options around the issues of alternative technologies and the rights of farmers.”
Signs have started appearing on farm fences across the Loddon and adjoining districts with the slogan “No Go AEMO”. A sign was also erected at the entrance to Boort Park for Saturday night’s North Central football and netball matches between Boort and Sea Lake Nandaly.
Terrapee broadacre farmer Billy Sexton was among dozens who took part in a half-time protest at Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park when the local side faced off against Charlton.
“There’s a fair chance nothing good will come from the project for us,” he said. “We are In the dark on what it looks like.”
Meanwhile, more than 50 farmers from the Wedderburn districts attended last week’s Victorian Farmers’ Federation branch meeting with many also travelling to St Arnaud on Monday for the second forum in that town in a month.
AEMO Victorian Planning and Transgrid is assessing the technical and economic viability of expanding the transmission interconnector capacity between Victoria and New South Wales.
The project assessment draft report last July had the interconnector running from Bendigo through Prairie West to Kerang.
However, the project partners the route was changed with the VNIO West report released in late February.
Days before the new preferred route was announced, Victorian Energy Minister Lily d’Ambrosio issued an order to enable AEMO to consider alternate VNI West options could expedite the VNI West project development and “still deliver the project at a reasonable cost to consumers”. Mallee MP Anne Webster said the project was raised during her mobile office visits in the region last week.
““What we are seeing is city-based federal and State Labor Governments pushing forward with an agenda, taking a politically expedient road with no care for how it impacts Mallee farmers and their communities.
“We need transparency from AEMO and from both levels of government about the true impact this infrastructure will have,” Dr Webster said.
“(People) are getting little clarity; I’m being told they are being fed high level jargon-heavy information so AEMO can tick a box and say they have consulted, which is a sham process – it’s a Clayton’s consultation.”