Farmers for Climate Action backs transmission line payment scheme.

Farmers for Climate Action has welcomed the Victorian Government’s move to pay landholders $8,000 a year for each kilometre of high voltage power line on their land, for 25 years.

Farmers for Climate Action, an organisation representing 7,500 farmers Australia-wide, had been calling for such a policy, and it was a key plank of its Victorian election campaign.

“If transmission uses a farmers’ land, farmers should be paid for it. It’s only fair,” said Cam Klose, Strategy Director.

“We’ve advocated for this outcome and we welcome this announcement. While we are still waiting to see more detail, it is definitely a step in the right direction and we hope will help ease community concerns over the build-out of transmission infrastructure.

“We know we need transmission lines to connect renewable energy to consumers, driving down electricity costs and reducing cost of living.

“Farmers need to be respected and rewarded for transmission on their land and this policy recognises it. This will also help impacted farmers diversify their income, which pays during drought.

“To ensure continued community support for the renewable energy build-out, we will continue to advocate new transmission infrastructure following existing major infrastructure, such as freeways and rail lines, as much as possible.

“Of course, farmers who do not wish to have transmission on their land should have the right to refuse.” 

This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 28 February 2023.