A FIVE-COUNCIL alliance has fractured on the eve of yesterday’s meeting with Victorian Energy Minister Lily d’Ambrosio.
Northern Grampians Shire on Tuesday walked out of the grouping with Loddon, Buloke, Yarriambiack and Gannawarra councils formed to advocate to Government on issues including transmission lines, renewable energy and mining.
Northern Grampians Shire deputy mayor Justine Hide said alliance members had been exploring common ground in relation to challenges created by transmission line, renewable energy and mining projects in their regions.
She said after further discussions, Northern Grampians councillors had decided to withdraw from the alliance.
The decision comes as Loddon Shire continues talks with its landowners in the path of the controversial VNI West renewable energy transmission line project between Stawell and Kerang.
Loddon and Buloke councils this week rejected some media reports that they had signed a $100 million deal with VicGrid that would see payments for VNI West through the shires.
A Buloke statement issued moments after the Northern Grampians decision was announced said it remained committed to transparency, to standing up for our landholders and residents, and to ensuring that any future developments respect the wishes and wellbeing of our communities.
A meeting of the councils last week  agreed priorities of fair and equitable compensation for all affected farmers along the route; access to wholesale electricity prices for communities hosting new generation and transmission assets; and legacy housing projects to deliver benefit  to rural towns.