Michaela Meade
Plans for transmission towers running through Melton and Moorabool have already begun to impact the mental health of residents, according to a local business owner.
Grant Harrison owns Melton Toyota, and said that he has customers come in for vehicle repairs and leave in tears because of the proposed Western Victoria Transmission Network Project (WVTNP) transmission corridor.
The proposed 190-kilometre transmission line would stretch from Bulgana near Stawell through Moorabool and Melton to Sydenham, with power lines potentially placed on or very near people’s properties.
Mr Harrison, who also sits on the project’s community consultancy group, said that while the project would not impact him or his business directly, he felt “obliged” to speak up for his community.
“I’ve put myself in the shoes of the farmers, the land owners,” he said.
“They should be reconsidering the entire project [and pursue] underground cabling that doesn’t impact properties like this.
“It seems ridiculous.”
Mr Harrison, a fourth generation local, said customers had told him how their homes or businesses would be affected.
“There’s a man who runs a flight school… he’ll have to shut down, he can’t fly over power lines,” Mr Harrison said.
“There’s also a lady… she’s a second generation farmer, and very proud.
“She’s not got a say in it, why?”
Mr Harrison said his community isn’t opposed to the green energy the project would provide, but wants more community input to be heeded.
“We’re all for green energy, no one in this community is against that,” he said.
“They’re all saying ‘green energy, beautiful, that’s what we need’, but why is the government allowing this, where it’s impacting people’s lives and livelihoods.
“We’re just saying, in any area… it’s not right.
“I don’t care if it’s north, south, east or west, it shouldn’t be put right in the community.”
