Farmers see red over VFF stance on transmission lines

The VFF has left the door open for transmission and renewable projects to be built on some farmland in its submission on new guidelines.

Victorian Farmers Federation president Emma Germano said all renewable energy and transmission infrastructure must be properly planned. Picture: Supplied

The Victorian Farmers Federation wants the government to avoid bulding new transmission lines and renewable developments in horticulture, dairy and irrigation zones, but has left the door open for network rollouts across the rest of the state.

In its submission to the 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan Guidelines, the VFF published a map showing red zones that “should be avoided”, including Gippsland, southwest and northern dairying regions, the Kiewa, Mitta and Yarra Valleys, plus Werribee, Bacchus Marsh and Ballarat horticulture zones, as well as the Goulburn and Murray Valleys’ irrigation districts.

Farmers across the western half of Victoria have been incensed by the submission, saying the map sent a clear message to government the rest of the state was open to being carved with more transmission lines, wind and solar developments.

Rupanyup grain grower Andrew Weidemann said the submission “should be about farmers having right of veto about what happens on their land”.

Gre Gre Village farmer Peter Knights said grassroots farmers, who were bearing the brunt of the VNI West and Western Renewables Link transmission line rollouts had not even been consulted on the VFF’s submission.

“It’s a sell out of members who are not in the red zones,” Mr Knights said. “They’re (VFF) not even making mention of the fire risk.”

Members of the VFF’s policy council told The Weekly Times they had not even seen the final submission before it was lodged.

VFF President Emma Germano said: “Whilst we are saying there should be a red light to development in these regions, we are not saying there should be a green light to bulldoze over the rest of the state’s farmland.

“All renewable energy and transmission infrastructure must be properly planned in a way that is compatible with existing agricultural uses.”

VFF Grains Group vice-president Ryan Milgate said “this is one of the biggest policy issues to confront Victorian farmers”.

“(Yet) as an elected representative I had no idea such a policy was to be released. Is this policy made and ratified by policy council or is this a ‘captain’s call’ by VFF leadership?”

Ms Germano said: “This submission is completely within the VFF renewable energy policy, ratified by the VFF policy council. We must present solutions to government — that’s our job as an advocacy organisation”.