Liam McNally with AAP/Cameron Godde
Fired-up farmers rumbled into Melbourne to take their fight against two contentious transmission projects to the front steps of Victorian Parliament.
Tractors and trucks rolled up for the “stop the towers” protest on Tuesday, August 15, over the proposed VNI West and Western Renewables Link projects.
Moorabool and Central Highlands Power Alliance (MCHPA) chair Emma Muir said she was there with supporters from Melton, Bacchus Marsh, Darley and Myrniong.
“It’s going to have a huge impact on our food supply, and in Melton it will impact where people are living around MacPherson Park and the pony club,” she said.
“I think there’s a better way to transport renewable energy cheaper and more efficiently without impacting communities, food supply and jeopardising our safety.”
VNI West has been billed as a second transmission link between Victoria and NSW that will harness renewable energy zones and increase network reliability as coal-fired power stations are retired.
The Western Renewables Link would also carry renewable energy from Bulgana in Victoria’s west through Moorabool and Melton to Sydenham through 190km of overhead transmission lines.
The Australian Energy Market Operator’s preferred route option is to link the projects at Bulgana.
In February, the state government flagged farmers with transmission easements on their land would receive standard payments of $8000 a year for 25 years.
But landowners remain concerned about construction disruptions, health and biosecurity risks, environmental impacts, the bushfire threat from high-voltage power lines and towers, land devaluation, farming limitations and ceding access to their properties.
“I know it’s disruptive,” Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters on Tuesday before the protest.
“It’s a very meaningful thing to have people come onto your land and say they’re going to build a big transmission easement through your farm.”
Mr Andrews insisted an environmental assessment process must run its course and farmer’s views would be heard through that.
Victorian Farmers Federation president Emma Germano addressed the crowd, accusing the government of failing to adequately plan for the renewable energy transition.
“Farmers and regional communities have been taken for a ride since these projects were announced and I’m not surprised that frustration led directly to Spring Street,” she said.
The peak body has launched a petition calling for an immediate halt to the planning and construction of both projects.
Ms Muir said the protest was a good opportunity to highlight the issue to broader-Melbourne.
“So they understand we aren’t against renewables but it has to be done sustainably and we shouldn’t have to do it at such a high cost,” she said.
“It’s a very complicated issue, and it’s not simple to fix, but we are prepared to meet anyone at the table to talk about it, and it’s important for the state government to be the ones to talk to us.”
