Transgrid reveals the NSW route of the VNI West

Transgrid has revealed the NSW route of the VNI West Interconnector powerline which will run for more than 200km.

The 239km route of the VNI West Interconnector in NSW.

Transgrid has narrowed the NSW section of the VNI West Interconnector easement down to a 200metre wide corridor.

The 500kV line is set to run for 239km across NSW, from the Murray River, downstream of Murrabit in Victoria, to the west of Moulamein and then east to the Dinawan energy hub substation.

A DETAILED MAP OF THE ROUTE CAN BE FOUND HERE

Like many farmers along the VNI West route, Cunninyeuk farmer Arnold Hall has refused to grant Transgrid access to his property.

“We’ll have it running 600m from the house and cutting (3.5kms) through our dryland and irrigation country,” Mr Hall said, on which he grows cereals and rice.

“We put an aeroplane over it the wheat for stripe rust and do the same to top dress our rice and for spraying.

“It will cut across our driveway and we’ll have to drive back and forth under it five or six times a day. It’ll be an eyesore and my wife is very upset.”

Many landholders have halted farm upgrades since Transgrid first released its draft route report in February, which was up to 2km wide.

Transgrid says it will eventually narrow the route to a 70m wide easement, as was announced by the Transmission Company Victoria this week, which is building the Victorian section of VNI West.

Transgrid VNI West Project Director Colin Mayer said the company would “continue to work closely and engage with the local community, landowners and key stakeholders as we advance planning for this nation-critical project.

He said Transgrid had consulted throughout this year with the local community and landowners to get to this preferred route.

“This will provide further certainty to local communities and landowners along the NSW section of the project. It follows a significant change to the preferred route which resulted in a move of the proposed transmission line further away from Moulamein, by extending the distance from the township.”

Project early works are being funded by $700 million from Transgrid securityholders and $140 million in concessional financing support from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

Visit www.transgrid.com.au/vniw for more detail.

Originally published as Transgrid reveals the NSW route of the VNI West