TAG
transmission line
Generators arrive to remote towns in Far West
Emily McInerney. It was announced at midday Saturday ... that power has been restored, via generator, to customers living in rural areas outside of Broken Hill, after Essential Energy completed aerial inspections of the power network and confirmed it was safe to re-energise. More than 12,000 customers were impacted by unplanned outages following a storm that moved through the area on Wednesday night, bringing down transmission towers and causing damage to the electricity network.
Landholders the priority for VNI West route update: TCV
Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) is prioritising contact with landholders in communications about the planned route for the new transmission line. TCV has narrowed the draft corridor for VNI West to a preferred easement of 70 metres along most of the route, subject to the Environment Effects Statement (EES) ... Landholder Liaisons will seek to meet in person to listen to concerns, answer questions on topics such as compensation, and discuss the next steps.
Tony, we need “You” to remain “You”
Tony Mahar is a seriously good operator, widely respected across the ag sector, but one suspects the government is hoping he’ll morph into their Lord Hee-Haw—a smooth-talking apologist who can help them roll out their 40 turbines a month, and thousands of kilometres of power lines across picturesque rural farmland by 2030 ... The government must be worried as the bush is in revolt and the government's secret polling must have them worried. Hence the roll out of the conservative version of Henry Kissinger to calm the locals.
New Energy Infrastructure Commissioner to facilitate leading practice in the reliable renewables rollout: Bowen
The Albanese Government has appointed Tony Mahar as the new Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner (AEIC). Mr Mahar will draw on his extensive experience in rural and regional Australia, most recently as CEO of the National Farmers Federation, in this important role. Mr Mahar will work as an intermediary between farming and regional communities, industry and government to promote leading community engagement practices as Australia transforms its energy system ...
Meeting questions VicGrid plans
Marian Haddrick. VicGrid CEO Alistair Parker met with a hundred concerned locals from Birchip and the surrounding area last Thursday at the Birchip Leisure Centre. Birchip is in the Regional Energy Zone (REZ) that is connecting supporting transmission infrastructure from Victoria’s west in Horsham to the north of the state in Red Hills.
Open letter to CFA management, District Controllers, VFBV and CFA Brigades in Renewable Energy Zones
We are a collective of CFA Brigades in Districts 16 and 18 who have taken a position where our Brigade will not commit to operating on or around electricity generation and transmission infrastructure by taking a perimeter only defence position except for where lives or safety of public is threatened. Specifically, this is Renewable Energy Infrastructure (REI) being wind turbines, large-scale solar and battery installations, high voltage (220 kva plus) transmission lines and connection hubs.
Parliament to examine transmission expansion
State Parliament’s Legislative Council Economy and Infrastructure Committee will conduct an inquiry proposed by the Liberals and Nationals into the expansion of Victoria’s high-voltage power transmission system. It will examine the expansion as proposed by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), VicGrid and the Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) as well as the expansion of Victorian transmission connections associated with the Victorian Government’s proposed “renewable energy zones”.
VNI West land access agreements surpass 100: TCV, AEMO
Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) now has land access agreements in place for more than 100 properties in the VNI West draft corridor to allow important survey work to continue. The announcement of the preferred easement that will host the VNI West transmission line is expected in coming weeks ... "Our main objective is to find the most suitable location for the preferred easement that minimises impacts to farms and farm operations, balanced with consideration of the environment and other site constraints": VNI West Program Director Tony Hedley.
Sophie’s heartfelt message: “Stop the transmission lines”
On Friday ... hundreds of farmers rallied in Bendigo, to bring awareness to a number of issues facing rural communities, particularly the subject of renewables, and calling on the government for answers ... 13-year-old local Sophie Burke, stepped in at short notice to speak bravely about her own future as a sixth generation farmer at Jeffcott:...
Where’s the community benefit to industrial green energy?
As the industrial sprawl of green energy marches across the government-identified Renewable Energy Zones (REZ), Gannawarra Shire Councillor Garner Smith has renewed his call for negotiating lasting benefits from the VNI West project and renewable developments for Gannawarra residents. “Personally, I do not see an overall long-term benefit for communities like Gannawarra, out of either the VNI West power line or the renewable projects. Little to no long-term employment, unattractive infrastructure on a scale that the community does not comprehend and a benefits package that lacks detail and sounds more like welfare than an opportunity.

