Jenny Pollard, The Buloke Times
Avenues of engagement, updates on consultations and community intervention were amongst the themes addressed by the speakers at last Monday’s community meeting held at the Charlton Park function room.
The meeting was the latest in the ongoing response to the Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) proposed installation of the high voltage double circuit overhead 500Kv transmission lines across North West Victoria.
Member for Mallee, Dr. Anne Webster, made good on her offer to bring Leader of the Federal National Party, David Littleproud, to the region following the strong activism at the St. Arnaud forum held in mid-April.
A crowd of around 150 gathered in Charlton to hear commentary from Hon. David Littleproud, Professor Bruce Mountain, Director of the Victoria Energy Policy Centre (VEPC), Dr. Anne Webster, and Charles Everist, General Manager of Policy and Advocacy at the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF).
Address
The meeting, chaired by Charlton local, Jon Whykes, opened with a welcome and apologies, including those of AEMO representatives, and began with an address by Professor Mountain (via video link), whose analysis of the project, in association with Professor Simon Bartlett, presents multiple concerns about the AEMO proposal.
Outlining a history of the project (details of which have recently appeared in the “Buloke Times”), Professor Mountain reiterated the project’s costs, ineffectiveness, limited value for purpose, transmission congestion, and fire risk, before offering an alternative through the utilization of existing infrastructure from the Latrobe Valley to Melbourne.
“This is by far the strongest transmission corridor in Australia,” Professor Mountain said, “where there is already existing capacity”.
He then went on to say, “We do not believe we are jeopardizing the Victorian Government’s emission reduction policy by putting forward a much cheaper plan – Plan B, which will be released after AEMO has finalized it’s last stage which is due in about three to four weeks’ time”.
Questions
Questions were then directed to Professor Mountain and encompassed:
- The need for a second transmission line, (which has the potential of tripling energy charges).
- (How much push-back from farmers was needed to stop AEMO?
- What constraints would the easements impose on farmers and services such as the CFA?
- How does a power regulator adequately evaluate agricultural issues?
Avenues of recourse included approaches to government, and in the case of question 2, Professor Mountain said it would perhaps require a Senate Inquiry.
He believed the Victorian community to be the most well organized in terms of rebuff, and offered the following comment: “Seeing the Victorian Government could meet its targets without the transmission line, and that the arguments for the proposal were so weak, the prospects of halting the project and ensuring that sense actually prevails, are good. However, this would require resolve and organization, but the social engagement you have is extraordinarily valuable”.
Litmus Test
Federal Nationals Leader David Littleproud, then took to the microphone, opening with, “While this is a problem which will be faced across the East coast of Australia, you (Victoria) are the litmus test.
“This is all because of the accelerated pathway this new Federal Government wants to go on renewables. They want to get 82% renewables by 2030 and to get there, they have to build new transmission lines, 27,000 kilometres of new transmission lines.”
Borrowing $25bn in the first tranch to put money aside for these transmission lines, these costs “will end up being borne by you at some point”.
Talking about embracing renewables and emerging technologies such as small scale modular nuclear technologies, Mr. Littleproud said there are other options “and we didn’t have to rush into this.”
A national net zero is not required until 2050. Consideration of environmental outcomes in the reduction of carbon emissions was also vital, he said.
Proposal
A proposal of getting AEMO to a Senate Estimates hearing (which it must attend and must answer the technical questions), was one option of redress, with another being a Senate Inquiry, which had already been tried, but had been voted down by the government, the greens and the cross-bench. He said further engagement with the cross-bench was being pursued.
“If you shine a light on this you can slow this down and you can open up the opportunities that Bruce (Mountain) annunciates,” Mr. Littleproud said.
An additional political opportunity for Victorians is for the Upper House to sign off on an Inquiry.
Mobilizing as a regional force, capturing the attention of city dwellers and being aware of the political avenues provide some of the steps.
“It’s very much up to you; you, that have the currency,” Mr. Littleproud said, emphasising increased food costs and making city-dwellers aware of what the government is imposing on agricultural areas was important.
“Don’t underestimate your power — what this means to you, your livelihoods and your futures. That’s a powerful message which metropolitan Australians will listen to.”
A Q. & A. session followed where questions ranged from nuclear energy, to the Independents meeting with Professor Mountain.
Resolutions
A short address by the Buloke Mayor, Alan Getley, was followed by a call for Resolutions, with four proposals being offered. These included:
- Request the Victorian Government respond publicly to the issues raised in the Bartlett / Mountain submission including alternative forms of transmission and power.
- We request that the Minister for Energy and Resources, State Electricity and Climate Action, Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio further investigate the lack of transparency and due diligence displayed by AEMO which has been highlighted by Professors Bartlett and Mountain and by the broader community.
- Instruct the Australian Energy Market Operator Victorian planner to suspend any further regulatory consideration of the Western renewable link VNI as soon as possible.
- This meeting calls on AEMO to publish all economic and environmental modelling it has done to date for the various proposed follow up work related to the project, including any proposed wind turbines, solar arrays and any feeder lines need to connect to the proposed new transmission line.
All motions were passed unanimously.
Information
VFF General Manager of Policy and Advocacy, Charles Everist, stepped up to offer information from the VFF perspective during commentary on the Resolutions.
Saying the transmission issue is the number one advocacy issue for the VFF, he said, the establishment of an energy and transmission task force is pursuing all alternatives, along with the VFF President, Emma Germano, having written to Minister D’Ambrosio requesting a meeting and calling for an immediate pause to all planning on transmission for the VNI West project and the Western Renewables link, and for the State Government to undertake a statewide plan for renewable energy and transmission. The VFF is also calling for AEMO to be stripped of its planning powers in Victoria and for the Victorian government to step in and take control.
“We need to turn our attention to the politicians,” Mr. Everist said, “because ultimately the buck stops with the government. David Littleproud has outlined the avenues at the Federal and State level, we need to make sure those democratic mechanisms work for us.
“It is very important you contact your members of parliament. At the VFF level, meetings have already taken place with the Leader of the Opposition, John Pesutto, and with the Member for Ripon, Martha Haylett.”
“We need to turn our attention to the politicians,” Mr. Everist said, “because ultimately the buck stops with the government. David Littleproud has outlined the avenues at the Federal and State level, we need to make sure those democratic mechanisms work for us.
“It is very important you contact your members of parliament. At the VFF level, meetings have already taken place with the Leader of the Opposition, John Pesutto, and with the Member for Ripon, Martha Haylett.”
“The presentation of a reasonable and respectful front was important to engage with all sides of politics,” Mr. Everist said, “so they feel comfortable dealing with the VFF. However, if there is unwillingness to ‘come to the table’, then right to protest comes into play.”
Round-Table Gathering
An additional point of action for the VFF was securing a round-table gathering in Melbourne with a representative from Minister D’Ambrosio’s office, with Alastair Parker CEO VicGrid, representatives from AEMO and representatives from the VFF task force to ask all the unanswered questions and work on a plan to get those answers, to identify the policy gaps and to provide some solutions. The VFF President is also writing to the CEO of AEMO to organize a private audience with him.
“It is important to continue to provide leadership in your communities to make sure your voice is heard,” Mr. Everist said. “We will support you every way we can, and I encourage you to keep engaged — and please keep up the fight.”
Further general discussions about environmental impacts, energy cost increases, media engagement and a directive to utilize local media, such as the ABC and talk-back radio, rounded out the session. The meeting concluded with thanks to all guest speakers and participants.
Contacts for further input into discussions are:
- Gerald Feeney (St. Arnaud representative on VFF task force) 0419 873 752.
- Graham Nesbit (Wedderburn VFF Branch President) 0409 207 383.
A further public forum will be held today – Friday, May 5, 2 p.m., at the Loddon Shire Council Chambers, Peters Street, Wedderburn.
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 5 May 2023.
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