General News
25 April, 2023
Farmers in a flap over route for power line
Farmers were among the loudest voices during cafe stopovers in the region by Member for Mallee Anne Webster. Their main concern was about lack of information on a proposed Victoria-NSW Interconnector West project, set to expand transmission capacity...
Farmers were amongthe loudest voices during cafe stopovers in the region by Member for Mallee Anne Webster.
Their main concern was about lack of information on a proposed Victoria-NSW Interconnector West project,set to expand transmission capacity between the two states.
Dr Webster, who was hosting public feedback meetings in Horsham and Warracknabeal, said the Australian Energy Market Operator considered a total of seven options for the project route.
Option 5 included a 500-kilovolt double-circuit overhead transmission line connecting to a link east of Stawell and north of Ararat.
She said people had concerns about lack of consultation with farmers.
"This is on top of a project route change," she said.
"It was originally an existing 220kv line from Ballarat to Kerang via Bendigo."
She said VFF President Emma Germano had commented that the proposed link previously known as the Kerang Link was now going nowhere near Kerang.
Plans now were that it started near Stawell then went past St Arnaud and Charlton and through the Loddon Shire to near Echuca.