General News
18 June, 2025
Northern Grampians rejects VNI West project
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.
At this month'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 council agreeing to
continue to advocate to the state government for an alternative to the VNI West project; bring to the attention of the government its responsibilities under the Paris Agreement, in which it specifically protects farming land from alternative energy projects; and strongly advocate to the state government on the importance of food security in Victoria and the wellbeing and mental health of the Northern Grampians community.
Cr Emerson said his notice of motion followed 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," he said.
"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.
“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 after mayor Karen Hyslop declared a conflict of interest – also voted in favour and said the decision was a popular one in the gallery.
“There has been significant opposition to this project in our community,” Cr Hide 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 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.
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.