Sarah Oliver
Moorabool council has voted unanimously to adopt a High-Voltage Transmission Line Setback Policy, to address concerns around the proposed route of transmission lines between Sydenham and Bulgana.
Moorabool Shire currently houses three wind farms and is intended to accommodate over 70 kilometres of the 500kV Western Victoria Transmission Network Project (WVTNP).
The shire also forms part of the state government’s Western Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), which has earmarked potential projects to achieve Victoria’s renewable energy transformation.
Mayor Tom Sullivan said while Council does not dispute the importance of significant renewable energy infrastructure projects and is supportive of the transition to renewable energy, it is essential that this is delivered through sustainable outcomes where the long-term impacts to THE community and the natural environment are not unreasonably compromised.
“The policy seeks to implement the most recent transmission line setback recommendation handed down in the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner’s 2020 Annual Report, which recommends a minimum setback of 200m from residences for powerlines that are 220 kV or greater,” Cr Sullivan said.
The council has identified at least 15 individual residences situated within 100 metres of the WVTNP’s 500kV powerline through Moorabool, and an additional 23 within 200m.
In a statement, the council said the unsatisfactory setbacks also highlight landowner compensation concerns “given that compensation is related only to the acquisition of land for easements and not for impacts to amenity for neighbouring properties, even if the transmission infrastructure is geographically closer to their residence”.
“We’ve been advocating for undergrounding the WVTNP since 2019 and strongly endorse the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner’s recommendation, which states: ‘Where possible, transmission infrastructure should be placed underground and/or well away from residences and road reserves’,” Cr Sullivan said.
