Ewen McRae
By Ewen McRae
Moorabool council has published a report that validates the undergrounding of powerlines as part of the proposed Western Victoria Transmission Network Project.
Plans are underway for nearly 200 kilometres of overhead powerlines through Moorabool and Melton to transfer power from wind farms in the state’s west to metropolitan Melbourne.
While project operator AusNet has said that overhead lines are the only option being considered, both council and numerous affected locals have pushed for the lines to go underground to protect farmland and maintain the visual aesthetic of the region.
Council engaged an independent consultant to conduct a comparative assessment of 500 kV overhead transmission lines with 500 kV underground transmission cables.
The report, based on literature reviews and data modelling, assesses the impacts of overhead lines and underground cables.
The report found that the undergrounding of powerlines is indeed a viable alternative for the proposed Western Victoria Transmission Network Project.
Moorabool chief executive Derek Madden said the report supports council’s campaign to put the high-voltage transmission lines underground.
“There is no reason these lines can’t be placed underground,” Mr Madden said.
“With this independent report to back us, we’ll continue to push for this to occur.”
The report said that even if not all of the route was able to go underground, the possibility of putting as much of it underground as possible should be explored.
“If it is not commercially viable to install the entire route underground, certain segments could be installed underground although this would require an aboveground transition station at each end,” the report stated.
“To install a portion of the route underground is not a simple solution but it is a technically feasible option.
“Another option is to install some or all of the new overhead line adjacent to the route of the existing overhead line easement (Sydenham-Moorabool-Elaine-Ballarat).”
