Politics & Council
20 January, 2026
Powerline route given a Merring West tweak
THE controversial VNI West renewable energy transmission line will avoid Lake Meran and Leaghur State Park.
VicGrid said the southern route option in Meering West would no longer be progressed as part of the VNI West project easement.
It said the decision followed technical studies and community feedback which highlighted “significant environmental and cultural constraints associated with the southern option”.
“These constraints were confirmed through field surveys enabled by landholders,” VicGrid said.
In October 2024, the Preferred Easement Report for VNI West was released. This report confirmed northern and southern route options for the VNI West alignment in Meering West, based on sensitivities in that area first identified in the 2023 draft corridor report.
“These sensitivities included existing lakes and wetlands, as well as ecological and cultural heritage values associated with the Great Spectacle Lakes Complex, Lake Meran and Leaghur State Park,” VicGrid said in its Christmas week announcement.
“Through the EES process, project specialists have since undertaken extensive technical and environmental assessments, and gathered landholder, traditional owner and community insights for both Meering West route options.
“Through this work, it was determined that the southern route option at Meering West was too highly constrained and not a viable pathway for the VNI West project.
“Ahead of this update, landholders with properties in both route options were contacted by the VNI West project team to explain the update and resulting impacts to their properties. Importantly, any agreement terms with landholders no longer directly impacted by VNI West will continue to be honoured.”
The Meering West area is also slated for a 164-turbine wind farm. Consultation on a Federal Government application closed last month.