By Olivia Condous
Community groups and residents of Melton are fighting back against a proposed route change to the Western Renewables Link, set to begin installation by AusNet in mid-2024.
The 190-kilometre high-voltage transmission network project that will provide renewable energy to Melbourne has been met with intense criticism from landholders, residents and local councils, as many have argued the transmission lines should be installed underground.
The proposed route for the project was recently updated, with the plan now including 46-metre high towers installed on the northern edge of MacPherson Park, a reserve used by several community sport and recreation clubs.
Melton Football Netball Club president Brian McNabb said the group was concerned about the lack of consultation and safety risks, as the club uses the grounds multiple times per week for training and games.
“There’s nothing positive for the club in any way with these towers to be installed, if anything, it’s a dangerous situation for people involved in local sport,” Mr McNabb said.
“The real disappointment is it’s just been a lot of secrets and nothing presented formally until the eleventh hour… Trying to push it through without consulting clubs.”
The Melton Greyhound Racing Club and the Melton Pony Club also use the facilities around the MacPherson Park area, where there will be 80-metre high towers, and the future additonal Melton Christian College campus will also be situated a short distance from the towers.
“[MacPherson Park] is a seven day a week complex… with a lot of people in that area,” Mr McNabb said.
The change to the proposed route was made after the previous proposal impacted operations at the Melton Aerodome and was reassessed as having “the lowest overall impact”.
In a Melton council meeting last month, several councillors spoke against the project and unanimously voted to support advocacy efforts for the undergrounding of the transmission lines.
Councillor Moira Deeming called the management of the project “despicable”.
“This is too little too late, it’s no good to change the name of a project and then do all of this community consultation,” she said.
Cr Sophie Ramsey said the 80-metre high towers stretching 21 kilometres across the northern part of Melton would have significant impacts on the community.
“The process that it has followed has been poor… it seems to focus more on the cost of the infrastructure rather than the concern of the community.”
An AusNet Services spokesperson said the route update in Melton maximised the distance of the transmission line to homes, and would not impact the sporting fields.
“There is no established evidence that exposure to magnetic fields from powerlines, substations, transformers or other electrical sources, regardless of the proximity, causes any health effects, but we do understand the community has concerns and questions about this.”
Following a booked out community dinner on September 1, AusNet will hold a second dinner on September 6.
Details: www.westernrenewableslink.com.au
