Contentious energy infrastructure projects will be investigated by state parliament to see if their means justify the ends.
On Tuesday September 11, the Legislative Council’s Economy and Infrastructure announced they would launch an inquiry into the proposed expansion of transmission lines and high voltage grid in Victoria.
This includes the Western Renewables Link and Victoria to New South Wales Interconnector West, which span across Victoria’s north and west.
The inquiry is expected to report by December 2025.
Moorabool council, which will accommodate 60 of the 190 kilometre long WRL transmission line, said the findings will be ‘of particular interest’.
Shadow Energy and Resources Minister accused the state government of “stripping planning powers from communities” and indicated that it was a major reason for the investigation.
“The impacts on communities must be examined and fair arrangements put in place,” he said.
“The Allan Labor Government has… forced imposition of high voltage transmission lines over vast swathes of country Victoria and its proposed renewable zones have been another botched consultation with communities steam rolled.”
The state government was contacted for comment.
Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur, who proposed the inquiry, said she wanted the inquiry to give those impacted by the projects a chance to voice their concerns.
“This is something I have advocated for years, and it is no less than the communities of regional Victoria deserve,” she said.
“I hope it will give the opportunity for people who have so been ignored by politicians to put their point across, and help formulate a committee report and recommendations which can make things better in future.”
The inquiry will look into improving the planning processes for major infrastructure projects as well as the feasibility of ‘undergrounding’ transmission lines.
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) have contributed to both WRL and VNI West projects and own Transmission Company Victoria (TCV).
An AEMO spokesperson said they were “looking forward to participating” in the inquiry and that community and landholder consultation has been ‘at the centre’ of the VNI West project.
According to the spokesperson, TCV has hosted more than 30 community information sessions and 570 individual meetings with landholders.
