Jenny Pollard, The Buloke Times
The message was clear as farmers from around the Charlton district greeted representatives from the Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) with farm machinery bearing signs of dissatisfaction, as last Wednesday’s meeting about the Victoria to NSW Interconnector West (VNI West) at the Charlton Shire Hall opened to the public.
Lining both sides of Armstrong Street outside the Hall was an array of agricultural vehicles, many with signage denouncing the proposed VNI West project and highlighting its impact on the farming sector.
A substantial crowd built as the meeting time opening of 2.30 p.m. ticked around when farming families were joined by local landowners and members of the wider community keen show solidarity, and eager to press their on-going concerns about the draft transmission line corridor mooted for this area.
Skepticism
With a mass walk-in planned for the opening of the 2.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. consultation period, the mood, while restrained, was skeptical.
After having heard the proposals before, asked the questions, dealt with the liaison personnel and contributed the information, participants found their concerns had largely been ignored.
Little wonder that machinery-muscle, invective signage and plenty of feet walking through the door was in evidence on Wednesday!
Open dialogue
At the promotion by TCV as a “community drop-in session” aimed at “open dialogue with landholders and listening to communities”, attendees had the opportunity to speak with “experts on agriculture, environment and technical matters related to VNI West (who would) be available to answer questions and share information in their specialty areas.”
As with previous engagements of this nature, TCV representatives were plentiful, as was the literature. Brochures, leaflets, signage and maps were in abundance. While open and accommodating to the flood of people streaming into the hall, the atmosphere felt wary on both sides.
Some attendees settled in with the specialists, others poured over maps, conversations buzzed between locals. TCV reps were explaining, conversing and directing people to the appropriate support.
However, none of this alleviates the ongoing uncertainty plaguing the landowners within the project’s draft pathway. Generational livelihoods are at stake, and minimizing agricultural productivity is real. All the farmers’ concerns are the same – it’s just that some may end up bearing a bigger impact than others.
Example
Take for example the younger members of the Burke family from Jeffcott. With 150 years of farming history behind them, they potentially have around 9.6kms of land within the proposed corridor on which a possible 19 to 21 towers could be being erected. It’s not hard to understand the frustration behind the sign on their header which read: “4 Sale. No longer needed if powerlines come through.”
For Claire Grant (Glenloth East), who attended the meeting with her 8-month-old daughter, Ella, their newly built home – only moved into before Easter – could now have powerlines right beside it.
“It’s not only the house” said Claire, “but the impact on the wider farm as well.”
Some attendees said that while they weren’t directly affected they had turned up to offer support to the farmers; others had brought grandchildren whose futures will be changed if this project continues in its current form.
Anxiety remains high. Timelines keep changing. As noted (in small print), in one of the information booklets, “dates are indicative only”.
As the waiting continues, the words of John Farnham’s anthem, “You’re the Voice” seem appropriate: “We’re not going to sit in silence!”
Other TCV community sessions were held at Kerang (April 16) and Stawell (April 18).
Related story: In-depth discussions with TCV specialists: Communities “drop-in”
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 23 April 2024.
