General News
10 March, 2023
'Unfair unknown'
FARMERS are pushing for detail on new plans for an electrical transmission line through northern Loddon districts. More than 20 primary producers met at Woosang last Friday for a briefing by Victorian Farmers’ Federation Wedderburn branch president...
FARMERS are pushing for detail on new plans for an electrical transmission line through northern Loddon districts.
More than 20 primary producers met at Woosang last Friday for a briefing by Victorian Farmers’ Federation Wedderburn branch president Graham Nesbit.
They are wanting Australian Energy Market Operator to give more details on its VNI West (Victoria to New South Wales Interconnector West) project preferred Option 5 released a fortnight ago before consultation ends early April.
Farmers are also critical of the State Government’s compensation offer of $8000 a kilometre for only the first 25 years of the 40-year project.
“Without indexation, you won’t be able to buy two pots and a pie in 25 years’ time,” Andrew Lockhart told the briefing.
Mr Nesbit said: “There’s potentially major infrastructure running through this valley in the next four years.
“The change of preferred route brings the project right through this valley and there are no details on the properties it will be on.
“The biggest problem (with the project) is having consultation without the details,” he said. “It’s hard to make comment without the details.”
Mr Nesbit said earlier preferred routes would have sent transmission lines through potato-growing country where farmers had been campaigning to put lines underground.
The earlier route would have linked with the interconnector running from Bendigo to Kerang through Prairie.
Murray Group of Councils, that includes Loddon Shire, had a briefing on the new route last Thursday where shire CEO Lincoln Fitzgerald said councils were told of pop-up sessions starting at the weekend.
“At the same meeting council requested additional consultation and advertising along with a longer consultation period,” Mr Fitzgerald said
Mayor Dan Straub said council would formalise its position on Option 5 by the end of March.
Andrew Lockhart