By Olivia Condous
Moorabool council has called on AusNet Services to clarify timeframes for an important community input milestone in the Western Victoria Transmission Network Project.
The project, a proposed 190-kilometre high-voltage transmission network that will stretch through Melton and Moorabool, has been delayed significantly due to major pushback from the community.
Council has previously expressed disappointment in the proposed plan for the power line construction and has supported local residents to participate in the feedback process.
A consultation plan released by AusNet last year stated that the mandatory Environment Effects Statement (EES) would be made available to the public by mid-2022.
Moorabool mayor Tom Sullivan said the council called on AusNet to clarify if this important deadline remains accurate as it is fast approaching.
“The EES exhibition is an important opportunity for community input, however, there has been no public update provided by AusNet as to whether this anticipated deadline is still current,” Cr Sullivan said.
“We encourage AusNet to update the community on the EES exhibition timeframes as a matter of urgency, to give those with an interest in the project sufficient time to prepare.”
AusNet was ordered to prepare the EES by the state government in August 2020.
The information provided in an EES enables project decision makers to assess whether a project with significant environmental effects should proceed.
As part of the assessment, community members will be able to access the document for 30 days and lodge submissions responding to the information included.
In order to prepare residents who may wish to make a submission, council has provided more information at: www.moorabool.vic.gov.au/About-Council/Large-Projects-Impacting-Moorabool/Western-Victoria-Transmission-Network-Project.
