Jacinta O’Sullivan, Gre Gre resident, The Buloke Times
Wednesday, August 30, Transmission Company Victoria ran into approximately 30 farmers and local supporters as they continue to stealthily door knock landowners in the area of the VNI West.
Several pensioners, isolated and absent landowners have been targeted by the state appointed company Transmission Company Victoria in an attempt to blindside locals who will live with the 80-metre transmission lines in their local community.
Along the Traynors Lagoon, Gre Gre and Wallaloo section of VNI West an elderly woman had been approached by Transmission Company Victoria and been told they would be attending her place at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
It is unclear if she was aware that she could say “no” to the visit. The lady spoke with neighbouring farmers and asked if they could be in attendance when the strangers presented at her home.
A large crowd of local farmers was present when the representatives of Transmission Company Victoria arrived. The representatives identified themselves, and said they were there to deliver information.
No discussion
The farmers were keen to hear this information, but the TVC personnel would not discuss this any further. The large crowd casually continued to ask questions that the TCV representatives would not address. TCV has made a statement that the VNI West line has been determined within a 2-kilometre area and is refusing to tell anyone where this is. Farmers were disappointed that a company with plans for the country’s biggest infrastructure development since the 1960s is not prepared to share the details with the people and landscape that will be affected.
Poor practice
“It’s so disappointing that the VNI West has come to this,” said Wallaloo farmer Ben Duxson.
“To be developing a project without sharing the details with those who will be affected is very poor practice and completely unethical.”
The State government is endorsing the behaviour of Transmission Company Victoria which is prepared to exploit vulnerable members of the community, yet not have a discussion with others.
The Transmission Company Victoria staff arranged for a police escort to take them back to St Arnaud, which was undertaken by two Victorian Police units along the Wimmera Highway.
Local residents in the broad range of VNI West do not accept that any genuine public consultation has occurred, or that Australia Energy Market Operated and Transmission Company Victoria has any social licence in the area or rights to push on with a predetermined process. Now is the time to genuinely look at all options for transmission, to reassess in the light of new technologies, and for the Mountain and Bartlett Report Plan B that uses existing transmission infrastructure to be looked at formally.
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 5 September 2023.
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