VNI West protest: Tractor rally rolls into St Arnaud

Fifty tractors and 30 trucks rolled into St Arnaud on Monday, as farmers fight to stop a massive 500kV transmission line carving up their land.

Farmers have driven a convoy of 50 tractors and 30 trucks into St Arnaud this afternoon, in a bid to roll back state and federal government plans to build a 500kV Victoria-NSW interconnector across hundreds of rural properties.

The convoy assembled outside the St Arnaud Town Hall, in what organisers said was a show of strength and unity against the project.

Farmers roll their tractors into St Arnaud, before a meeting in the town hall to discuss state and federal government plans to carve up their land with 500kV transmission lines.

Victorian Farmers Federation young farmer Rachel McIntyre said it was “exciting to see such a good turnout”, with plenty of community backing.

But she and other farmers said they were bitterly disappointed to hear the government-backed Australian Energy Market Operator had pulled out of the meeting at the last minute.

AEMO, which is overseeing planning for the 400km Victoria-NSW Interconnecter West 500kV transmission line – which will be strung from 60-80 metre towers from Bulgana to Dinawan – has said it will have “comparatively little impact on high potential agricultural land”.

Rally organiser Jason Barratt said AEMO’s decision to pull out of the meeting was “just another example of them denying us our rights” and their “lack of consultation”.

Gre Gre farmer Bill Baldwin arrived at the rally with a load of hay on his truck, which he had spray painted with slogans “No lines, no turbines”, while others at the rally had put up placards stating “No go AEMO” and “We aren’t the weakest link”.

VFF president Emma Germano said AEMO’s decision to decline today’s community meeting at the last minute “demonstrates the lack of respect farmers are being shown”.

Major flaws have been exposed in the business case justifying construction of a $3.282 billion power transmission line that will carve its way through 400km of farmland in northwest Victoria and the NSW Riverina.

Farmers gather outside St Arnaud town hall this afternoon, after parking their tractors in the main street.