MALLEE MP Anne Webster has seized on the two-year delay to finishing the controversial VNI West renewable energy line as an admission that social licence and landowner consultation had been substandard.
“Mallee constituents have been telling me they are very unhappy with how they have been treated by TCV and VicGrid, the Victorian Government’s deployment arm for VNI-West,” Dr Webster said after last week’s announcement had been pushed out.
“As I wrote last month, Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio and VicGrid’s CEO received frosty receptions in the electorate due to the division their plans are causing in our communities.  Mallee residents feel their evidence of personal and local impacts simply has not been listened to, to date.
“Mallee residents strongly believe farmers and landowners deserve, and are not getting, a fair go. They are horrified to hear the Victorian Government are threatening fines of up to $12,000 if landowners do not comply with the railroading of energy projects, through a radical new bill in State Parliament.
“The two-year delay announcement on VNI-West follows the late April announcement the Western Renewables Link (WRL) which VNI-West connects with will, itself, be delayed until after the November 2026 state election while the public are consulted on environmental effects and planning approvals.”