Western Victoria Transmission Network: Farms split as powerline corridor set
The powerline pylon corridor that will feed renewable energy into Melbourne will carve up hundreds of farms. SEE THE MAP
AusNet has narrowed down the route of the 190km 500kV Western Victoria Transmission Network Project to just one corridor, running from Bulgana, just north of Ararat, to Sydenham in Melbourne.
Back in February AusNet put forward a range of corridors it was considering, creating uncertainty for farmers across the region.
One option was to use the Western Hwy corridor, but the company’s analysts found the easement was too narrow and have instead selected a route that runs from Bulgana to Waubra, then to Glendonald, Mount Prospect, Long Forest and finally Sydenham.
AusNet’s WVTN project executive director Stephanie McGregor said AusNet would continue to consult landholders over the latest corridor announced today and the right placement of the proposed transmission line within that corridor.
“Nobody knows the land like the landholders themselves,” Ms McGregor said. “We will work with them to ensure agriculture and other land use can continue along the line with minimal disruption.”
“We have experience working alongside many businesses, farmers and communities across the state who already live, grow crops and operate businesses under our network of 6,500kms of existing transmission lines.”
She said the selection of the corridor takes into consideration the location of private residences, the surrounding landscape, the environment, cultural significance and the agricultural use of land.
“Farming and transmission can occur side-by-side, as they do in many regional communities across Australia,” Ms McGregor said.
“We absolutely acknowledge and understand the uncertainty around the issue of farming under potential transmission lines.
“As a result of investigations, consultations and recognition that farming occurs under existing transmission lines in Victoria, we can confirm that farmers will be able to grow crops, including potatoes, within the transmission line easement.
“Ongoing engagement continues to be our priority. As the EES progresses there will be many opportunities for landowners and the community to provide further input as the process continues.”
But landholders say their properties will still be carved up and limits placed on the height of machinery that can run under the massive transmission lines.
Moorabool and Central Highlands Power Alliance chair Emma Muir said the route was pretty much the same as the one they “drew two years ago on the back of a cigarette packet – the shortest route from A to B”.
As for farmers being able to grow crops, such as potatoes, under the transmission lines, Ms Muir said that was wrong.
“How can you when there’s a bloody great pylon in the middle of the paddock and you can’t set up your irrigator.”
More details here.
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