Carey Brennan, The Buloke Times
On Thursday, April 11, approximately 80 farmers filled the Donald Memorial Hall supper room to hear from the Buloke Shire and several speakers, to find out exactly what the Victorian NSW Interconnector (VNI) West Transmission Lines project means for this district.
The Buloke Shire was represented by Mayor Alan Getley, Councillor Graeme Milne, Councillor Darryl Warren, Shire CEO Wayne O’Toole and Shire Officer Dan McLachlan. Additional speakers included James Burke, Gerald Feeny, Barry Batters and Ben Duxson.
The Shire representatives were asked what their position is in relation to the transmission lines project. It was stated that they had written to AEMO in October, 2023, asking the project be suspended until landholders were fully consulted. The Energy Minister, Lily D’Ambrosio, has also been written to, by Council, imploring her to listen to the concerns of the community. Neither letter had received a response.
Renewable Energy Zones
Donald, Charlton, Birchip, Wycheproof and St Arnaud are in the proposed Wimmera Renewable Energy Zone as set out by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) which can be found on their website. The notion of this zone was proposed by the State Government without any discussions with either the Shire or landholders, as stated by both landowners and Shire representatives at the meeting. It is unclear what the specifications were to judge our private farmland a suitable area to build wind turbines, solar panels and transmission lines except that it is classed as “disturbed” land, as it has been cleared to grow crops for food.
VNI West Project
The VNI West line is a 500kv transmission line, 390kms long with 80 metre high towers. It is designed to link Melbourne with Bulgana substation (near Stawell), travelling through farmland to Kerang and on to Dinawan substation near Jerilderie in NSW, which then links into another line taking it to the Snowy Hydro 2.0 and on to Sydney.
AEMO created TCV (Transmission Corporation Victoria) to build the VNI West lines. AEMO and TCV have no social licence to operate in this region. Employees are not able to enter properties without an access agreement having been signed by the land owner. So far, the majority of farmers have denied access to this construction company after failed public consultation meetings provided little information.
Claims that TCV is trying to narrow the draft corridor from 2kms wide to 100mts (“The Buloke Times” 12/4/24) appears to be false, as they are currently carrying out soil sample drilling along local roadsides adjacent to the line tower sites, and landholders are being told where the line will be positioned on their private property.
Energy Prices
The real reason for power price increases: part of every electricity bill goes to AEMO to cover infrastructure being built; this can be up to 50 per cent. The cost of paying the State Government’s land tax on the transmission line easements are also being passed on to consumers through their power bills. AEMO’s budget for 2024 renewables infrastructure is $325 billion.
Dooboobetic
James Burke, a fifth generation farmer and contract harvester, who helped organize the meeting, spoke of his interaction with TCV through a Land Liaison Officer. He has been told that he will have 9.6kms of transmission lines running through his family’s farms, a possible 21 towers. He has been given no choice on hosting the line and there has been no consultation on where this line will go on the property he owns. The loss of highly productive arable land and restrictions being placed on his farming activities are of great concern.
Other issues of concern, he said, are his ability to use the latest farming technologies including GPS and drones, possible loss of ISCC biosecurity accreditation required to sell grain to Europe, Farm and Public Liability insurance and CFA firefighting abilities around these huge high voltage lines.
Wooroonook Lakes
John Whykes stated that 65 per cent of his farm will be under the transmission lines that will cross east of the Wooroonook lakes, through an area of native Buloke trees and where Wedgetail Eagles have nested for years. TCV do not appear to be concerned that this poorly planned project will cause severe environmental destruction through this sensitive area where endangered species of native plants and birds like the Plains Wanderer and Wedgetail Eagles live.
Mental Health
With Mental Health of Australians supposedly a top priority, these stressful situations are causing huge issues for our farming families in this Shire. There were people attending the meeting who were very emotional about the perceived destruction of their prime farming land. They believed that they were not being heard by Government or AEMO and felt very alone in their fight. These issues have divided some communities in the district; it has also brought many like-minded people together creating a stronger bond for a common goal. Stop the transmission lines and protect our farms for future generations!
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 16 April 2024.
