TRANSMISSION Company Victoria hgas pushed back release of its VNI West preferred corridor a month as it scrambles to secure land access agreements with owners.
An estimated one in four landowners have signed agreements for TCV staff and consultants to enter properties between Stawell and Kerang and through northern sections of the Loddon Shire.
The original $10,000 land access “sweeetener” was lifted to $50,000 last year.
Leading opponent of the renewable energy transmission line project Gerald Feeny said offers had since more than doubled to property owners, estimated to total between 300 and 500 on the route -  to get farmer signatures.
TCV told the Loddon Herald it had increased the payment to landholders who provided larger areas for survey access.
VNI West program director Tony Hedley said: “TCV currently has about 120 signed land access agreements with landholders. Voluntary access agreements have allowed TCV to undertake nearly 60 field surveys on private land in 2024.”
Mr Hedley said the surveys were important to confirm the condition and environmental sensitivities of the land, and to enable us to reduce potential impacts of the project to people and farming.
A stakeholder update on Monday said VNI West landholder liaisons  from this week “will seek to contact people in the preferred easement and share details including an individual map showing the location of the easement on their land.
“We expect to be in a position to publicly share a report detailing the full preferred easement by late October, once we are confident that all impacted landholders have been given the opportunity to speak directly with their landholder liaison. We will also directly contact those within the draft corridor who are no longer directly impacted, and those with properties neighbouring the easement.
“Over the past year we have listened to feedback, and we understand that those who are most impacted – the people with property in the preferred easement – should have the time and space to process this news, prior to the broader public release of information.
“We understand that unfortunately this process and the associated uncertainty has caused concern. We also recognise that this is a major decision, and we needed to take time to listen and consider all the information available to us.”
TCV says a series of ecology investigations, identifying wildlife habitats and vegetation, will start this week and run through until December.
“Specialists will also be carrying out landscape and visual amenity surveys through to mid-October. The surveys will provide greater detail in assessing landscape typology and character assessment to map and identify landscape character types and prominent features. 
“These field investigations are taking place on public roadsides and will include non-invasive ground investigations such as site walkovers, photography, water sampling and vegetation mapping.”
And TCV wants new members for its VNI West community reference group.
Current members include Rachel Lloyd (Charlton), Vaughan Toose (Boort), Glenda Watts (Charlton), Glenden Watts, Yeungroon), Claire Grant, Glenloth) and Brett Hosking (Oakvale).
Meanwhile, Murray Plains MP Peter Walsh says landowners should not to rush into signing any agreements TCV.
“If you find your property in the final proposed corridor you will have options about the compensation you receive.
“Compensation should not just be a set period as proposed, but a payment for the life of the towers and the power lines,” Mr Walsh said.