Melbourne’s Spring Street had a break from monotony as cars and buses were replaced with tractors, trucks and utes with banners as hundreds protested the planned Victoria-NSW Interconnector West project.

An estimated 45 tractors, 10 prime movers and about 20 utilities brought commuters to a standstill as part of a ‘Stop the Towers’ rally, taking aim at Australian Energy Market Operator’s plan to carving up properties with 100m wide easements to install 70-80m power towers carrying 500kV interstate transmission lines.

As the paper went to print, the New South Wales parliamentary committee inquiry into the feasibility of undergrounding high-voltage transmission lines was meeting with community members in Deniliquin to hear concerns and comments surrounding the NSW leg of the VNI West.

Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) will start contacting the landholders who may be directly impacted by the transmission lines as their preferred route has been narrowed down to one kilometre for Kerang and surrounding areas. Work will continue on the central and southern Victorian sections to narrow down the route.

Hundreds of furious primary producers rolled into Melbourne on Tuesday on tractors, prime movers and utes, urging the Andrews Government to re-think its energy plan that will destroy prime agricultural land.

Victorian Nationals’ leader, Peter Walsh, has strongly backed the producers, who blocked Spring Street in the Melbourne CBD and then spoke at length against the Andrews Government.

Mr Walsh is supporting a ‘Plan B’ proposal to significantly upgrade existing powerlines.

“Victoria should look at the Victorian Energy Policy Centre proposal to upgrade existing lines rather than build VNI West,” Mr Walsh said.

“The VNI West has sparked a new generation of farmer activists. It’s great to see the next generation of agriculture step up and organise the rally.”

Victorian Nationals’ Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy, spoke to hundreds on the steps of Parliament.

Ms Kealy said the cost of living was sky-rocketing under an Andrews Government that has destroyed energy security in Victoria.

“Farmers keep the food on our tables and our economy ticking over. It makes no sense to bulldoze through their farms,” Ms Kealy said.

“Building new powerlines is unnecessary and expensive, but Labor will make every Victorian pay for this extravagant and excessive project through even higher power bills.

“Plan B should be Labor’s Plan A – upgrade the existing powerlines to unlock renewables, rather than riding roughshod over farmers’ rights and reducing Victoria’s food production.”

Federal Leader of The Nationals, David Littleproud, said Labor’s reckless race to achieve 82 per cent renewables by 2030 would have huge consequences on the agriculture sector.

He said he previously asked the Prime Minister for a National Energy Summit, to put all options on the table, but the best the Albanese government could do was a small inquiry into how to consult better. 

“The Nationals have also been attempting to get a Senate Inquiry into renewables and transmission lines but crossbench senators have been blocking it,” Mr Littleproud said.

“We are not against renewables, but Labor is threatening to take away the tools our farmers need to provide Australians with fresh, healthy and affordable food.

“Farmers are becoming increasingly anxious about the situation – which is why they have come to Parliament House to plead with the state Labor Government.

“We need to look at the social licence of these projects. The Nationals wholeheartedly stand by and support our farmers here today, who just want common sense to prevail.”

Labor’s plans for renewables, including 28,000 kilometres of transmission lines at a cost of at least $80 billion, will impact farmers like Gre Gre grain, vegetable and bean farmer, Billy Baldwin.

He said he made the 300-kilometre journey to Melbourne with his tractor to raise awareness.

“People need to realise renewables will carve up prime agricultural land,” Mr Baldwin said.

“It will decrease our efficiency to farm and feed people – resulting in higher grocery prices. There are better ways if we take a slight step back and have a look at what is happening.”

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 17 August 2023.