Northern Grampians Shire Council, Media Release, 3 June 2025

Northern Grampians Shire councillors will call on the State Government to find an alternative to its VNI West transmission line project amid fears for the nation’s food security along with community mental health and wellbeing.

Victoria to NSW Interconnector West – known as VNI West – is a proposed new 500kV double circuit transmission line connecting high-voltage electricity grids in New South Wales and Victoria.

The project’s preferred route affects landowners in Northern Grampians Shire, with the proposal involving developing major overhead transmission lines through prime agricultural land, from Bulgana to north of St Arnaud. 

At Monday’s council meeting in Stawell, councillors carried a notice of motion ‘that the council does not support the VNI West project in its current form’.

The notice of motion, brought by Cr Murray Emerson, also resulted in the council agreeing to continue to:

1. Advocate to the State Government for an alternative to the VNI West project.
2. Bring to the attention of the government their responsibilities under the Paris Agreement, where it specifically protects farming land from alternative energy projects.
3. Strongly advocate to the State Government on the importance of food security in Victoria and the wellbeing and mental health of our community.

Cr Emerson said his notice of motion followed the council completing due diligence on the project, which travelled through large sections of prime farming land.

“I have been directly involved in closely monitoring its progress for approximately two-and-a-half years. There have been numerous discussions over this time, with community, people who are affected by the path of this transmission line, and the so-called experts on this topic,” he said.

“I am unable yet to understand what benefit this development brings to our shire and its constituents. Yes, we need energy as the coal stations are closing, but not at the expense of prime farming land.

“We, as public representatives need to robustly advocate to the government, both state and federally, for this development to cease forthwith and seek a better outcome for all.”

Cr Emerson said councillors were of the opinion that alternative projects and transmission lines were required for the benefit of Victoria.

“However, due to the overwhelming objection by our local farming community over an extended period of time I believe we should be taking a stance against the project,” he said.

Crs Jack Blake and Karen Probst also spoke in favour of the motion, echoing Cr Emerson’s points about a lack of consultation, mental health concerns, cost blow-outs on other projects; and companies having ‘money at heart’ rather than community.

Deputy mayor Justine Hide – who chaired this section of the meeting because mayor Karen Hyslop had declared a conflict of interest – also voted in favour. Cr Jenny Greenberger is on a leave of absence.

Cr Hide said the decision was a popular one among the gallery.

“There has been significant opposition to this project in our community,” she said.

“As Cr Emerson said, we are yet to see the benefits the transmission lines will offer our region but have been inundated with people deeply concerned about the mental health impacts, along with the physical impacts of taking over prime agricultural land.

“We didn’t make this decision lightly, we did do our due diligence, and we will be advocating to the State Government to come up with an alternative proposal.”

Cr Hide said the council did not support the compulsory acquisition of farmland or native vegetation for transmission-line construction.

“The state and federal governments need to take a hard look at our food and water security; our supply chains are already vulnerable,” she said.

“Having Australian farmers producing Australian food for Australian mouths is something the government is taking for granted. The government should respect the signed Paris Agreement – it states that primary producing land should not be compromised by renewable energy.”

Cr Hide said councillors were also dissatisfied with elements of the consultation process to date.

“Our officers are engaging at all available levels to obtain the fullest information possible and to keep both councillors and residents informed,” she said.