Carey Brennan, The Buloke Times

Around 200 farmers rallied at Wycheproof on Friday, June 20, outside the Buloke Shire Offices ready to greet TCV staff when they arrived to meet with Councillors from Buloke, Gannawarra and Loddon Shires.

Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) had requested Shire Councillors from Buloke, Gannawarra and Loddon Shires attend the meeting that was to precede a “big announcement”.

Cr Alan Getley, Mayor of Buloke Shire read a statement to the crowd from the combined Councils which stated TCV had requested the meeting, the Councillors were unaware of what the meeting was about, nor did they know what the “big announcement” was to be.

Shortly before the meeting, TCV notified Cr Getley that they had concerns for their safety after receiving advice from Vic. Police and would no longer be attending, but would instead hold a closed “zoom” meeting with the Councillors. Surprisingly, the eight Victoria Police officers in attendance were unaware of the advice to TCV causing them to cancel the visit.

Cr Garner Smith, Mayor of Gannawarra Shire made a 3 hour round trip, only to be told that TCV was not attending due to the gathered local farmers and landowners protesting the VNI West transmission lines project.

James Burke (Dooboobetic) and Ben Duxson (Wallaloo), spoke about the impact the VNI West project would have on their farm land. Andrew Weidemann (Rupanyup), impacted by turbines and mining, spoke about farmers being under attack from the Victorian State Government through mining, turbines, transmission lines and the emergency services levy. Barry Batters (St. Arnaud), impacted by VNI West stated he had attended the TCV Community Reference Group meetings where he had raised many concerns with TCV only to have them completely ignored, many questions still unanswered.

Ross Johns (Warracknabeal), Chairman of the Wimmera Mallee Environmental and Agricultural Protection group who is impacted by turbines, talked about food security. Victorian farmers hold 1.5 per cent of agricultural land in Australia but produce 25 per cent of the country’s total food production, this makes up 14 per cent of Australian Export revenue. With a global population of 8.2 billion people and the fact that Australia produces enough food to feed itself 3 times over, we are an important cog in the global food supply chain. The current Governments are intent on taking over productive farm land which produces wheat, canola, barley, fruits, nuts, vegetables, meat, fibre (cotton and wool) and milk to replace it with power production.

Speaking after the meeting Councillors Getley and Smith, joined by Cr Graeme Milne, told the crowd that the meeting had been a waste of time and they had been asked by TCV to persuade farmers and land owners that land access for the transmission lines would be in their best interests. The Councillors assured farmers that their Shires’ stance had not changed and they do not support VNI West in its current form.

The VNI West (Victoria New South Wales Interconnector) 500kv transmission line is required to link the wind turbine projects in the area to the power grid. Part of the $600 Billion Rewiring the Nation project, this line is to transmit solar and wind generated electricity to the cities of Melbourne and Sydney. According to Electrical Experts the line is unnecessary as there are already transmission lines in place that can be upgraded and utilised at a far cheaper cost. Despite claims made by TCV, there is no real benefit to our regional communities as specialised workers will be brought in for construction.

Landowners on the current VNI West corridor are angry that their concerns are not being addressed and as a result, gates to their properties will be locked with access denied to TCV, Vicgrid and their contractors.

The State Government is trying to over ride their property rights with new legislation coming up in Parliament in July. Agriculture and Food are being sacrificed for power to the cities.

This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 24 June 2025.