General News
5 October, 2023
It's rude: farmer anger as wait for VNI West corridor continues
LANDOWNERS will have just days to digest the VNI West transmission project route before community engagement starts on Tuesday. Transmission Company Victoria, already missing its two earlier deadlines to release the refined 1km wide route, is...
LANDOWNERS will have just days to digest the VNI West transmission project route before community engagement starts on Tuesday.
Transmission Company Victoria, already missing its two earlier deadlines to release the refined 1km wide route, is expected to release details by the weekend.
One Loddon farmer said on Tuesday: “It’s rude to give so little time before the community meetings start.”
The farmer said late release of the corridor would hinder accuracy of any environmental effects study and its impact on local crops.
“The season is virtually over in northern areas. It’s not much use studying impacts after crops have reached maturity,” they said.
Sources have told the Loddon Herald they expect the controversial project’s corridor will be on the northern edges of Option 5A ‘land of interest’ announced in May by TCV’s parent company Australian Energy Market Operator.
Landowners near Bunguluke and Glenloth East have been contacted by TCV staff in recent weeks. Farmers around Barraport, Barraport West and Merring West have also been on the calling list.
The renewable energy transmission line is also expected to run parallel to Boort-Kerang Road before heading towards Kerang.
TCV will hold the first of five community information sessions from Tuesday starting in Charlton. Boort’s session is next Thursday.
The sessions have been billed for communities to “hear more about the project, including the draft corridor and ask questions of the project team”.
Loddon Mayor Dan Straub last month said there was concern the VNI West corridor report would be released with little time for consideration by communities.
Murray Plains MP Peter Walsh had earlier pushed Energy Minister Lily d’Ambrosio to have VicGrid assess the alternative proposal from the Victorian Energy Policy Centre that advocates abandoning VNI West and using existing transmission lines and easement to meet renewable energy transfer targets.
Ms d’Ambrosio in Parliament said: “These matters are under consideration by the market operator.”
The Loddon Herald understands the centre’s Professor Bruce Mountain and alternative report co-author Richard Bartlett have pressed VicGrid for terms of reference for an analysis.