The VFF has criticised the Victorian Government’s decision to go ahead with transmission line developments in western Victoria, following the announcement of a new corridor for the proposed Victoria to NSW Interconnector (VNI)-West project.
VFF president Emma Germano said Victorian Energy and Resources Minister Lily D’Ambrosio had ignored farmers’ wishes and was using “extreme powers” to force the construction of transmission towers on private land.
“The VFF called on the government to put a pause on these projects, take over their planning and get the policy settings right so communities are respected, and landholder rights protected,” Ms Germano said.
“Instead, they have done the complete opposite by giving the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) unfettered powers to send the bulldozers over our farms.”
Ms D’Ambrosio said critical transmission projects like VNI-West are necessary to deliver cheaper and more reliable renewable energy to Victorian homes and businesses.
“There can be no energy transition without new transmission infrastructure,” she said.
“As Victoria moves towards 95 per cent renewables by 2035, we have a duty to modernise our electricity network.”
However, Ms Germano said the proposed Option 5A for the VNI-West project has brought transmission development to new communities without their consultation.
“The minister’s order states that she has consulted with the premier, the treasurer and AEMO,” Ms Germano said.
“Nowhere does it say she has consulted with the farming communities that will be impacted by these projects.”
The minister gave the order to implement the AEMO’s preferred option for the transmission line, which will connect VNI-West to the planned Western Renewables Link (WRL) at a terminal station at Bulgana in Victoria’s west.
It will then link to a terminal station near Kerang in north-central Victoria, before crossing the Murray River north of Kerang.
A statement from the minister’s officer said that VNI-West will still require relevant planning and environmental approvals, including opportunities for community members and Traditional Owners to share their views on the project.
“Community input will play a crucial role in helping design a route that minimises impacts on the landholders, the environment and farming operations,” the statement said.
The Murray River Group of Councils welcomed the news that the proposed Kerang link will be jointly funded by the Federal and Victorian governments.
The group has been advocating for the Kerang Link project for several years, and it was a key request at the last Federal Election.
Swan Hill Acting Mayor Bill Moar said the funding announcement was a “massive” win for everyone involved and had come to fruition through collective advocacy.
“This project will create around 3000 jobs during the construction phase and many more jobs in the region for years to come as more and more solar farms are built,” Cr Moar said.
“It will be a huge boost to the regional economy, and to renewable energy targets.”
Under the proposed plan, landholders will be entitled to payments of $8000 per year per kilometre of transmission line hosted for 25 years.
These payments are in addition to existing arrangements for compensation, which cover any loss of land value.