Anger, Angst And More Questions Than Answers In Virtual `Town Hall’ Debate
Community anger and angst was palpable during last night’s virtual town hall meeting to discuss the proposed Western Victoria Network Transmission Project.
The meeting, involving 170 landholders and interested parties, was organised by the Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur.
During the meeting the Australian Energy Market Regulator, AEMO admitted it’s consultation to date has been a fail saying “…the message loud and clear is that we haven’t done a good enough job…”.
Mrs McArthur says it is just one of the problems.
“It is bizarre that we even find ourselves in this position – that the Andrews’ Labor Government would approve a pin-cushion of wind towers across Western Victoria without the ability to link that energy to the grid”.
“This is the ultimate cart before the horse problem so typical of this Premier and his Energy Minister, Lily d’Ambrosio”.
“Meanwhile local Labor MPs, Michaela Settle, Steve McGhie, Juliana Addison and Upper House MPs who are also Ministers, Jaala Pulford and Gayle Tierney, appear lost under the COVID doona!”
“We all appreciate the need to provide a reliable, affordable and accessible energy supply, but we need a long-term holistic approach to the planning process to ensure a sensible and practical supply, connection and distribution network.”
Via questions to the panel, some farmers told the meeting an overhead transmission network of hundreds high towers would destroy their properties, devastate land values, increase fire risk and obliterate visual amenity, without appropriate compensation for them or neighbouring landholders.
There were 282 questions submitted during the ‘Town Hall’ Meeting via the Chat function and more than 130 via email in advance to Ausnet, AEMO and Energy Safe representatives. They included:
”Is there any compensation for Visual Impact – think property sale value will diminish by hundreds of thousands of dollars” and
“What about when the line runs next to a valuable property and there is NO compensation?” and
“Given the 51% foreign ownership of AusNet, has the prospect of the extensive compulsory acquisition of vast tracts of prime Victorian land been briefed to the Federal Government and does it pass the Prime Minister’s new “National Interest” test?” and
“Has the substantial potential cost of compensation been factored into the true costs for overground transmission as opposed to underground lines”?
The 190 kilometre transmission line from Sydenham to Bulgana, east of Stawell, is intended to create greater capacity in the electricity transmission network to incorporate renewable power sources from regional Victoria - all driven by the Victorian Labor Government’s plan to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Many concerns were raised about the robustness of the Environment Effects Statement (EES) and the preferred option of overhead transmission lines with towers 85 metres high, as opposed to underground cabling. The potential destruction of rural farming properties is of major concern. If the State Government wants to provide so-called emission free energy to those ‘inside the tram tracks‘ of Melbourne, the cost in so many forms to rural constituents, needs serious assessment.
“If you’re worried about the impact of putting a powerline underground because of native grasses or frogs – I think the numerous other concerns are far more serious and need to be taken into account,” Mrs McArthur said in response to a justification for overhead lines.
“Would the good people living along St Kilda beach or the Green heartland of Fitzroy accept these transmission towers? Unlikely. Yet regional Victorians are expected to cop them and their generational destruction – environmentally, visually, financially, emotionally”.
“This is a feel-good project for inner-city Melbourne at the expense of country Victorians”.
Mrs McArthur said it was critical for landowners to put questions about their livelihoods directly to Ausnet and AEMO representatives.
“Farmers and landowners are right to be angry. They feel left out of a project that changes their lives and businesses. The consultation could have, and should have, started much earlier,” Mrs McArthur said.
“Sitting in a city office and drawing a dot-to-dot line on a map is never going to get the result that anyone wants. It’s not fair and it’s certainly not appropriate.
“I’m sure Ausnet and AEMO got that message very clearly last night.
“I am pleased to have hosted a meeting that has finally given rise to the beginning of real consultation and a genuine recognition of community voice in the planning process. I am especially grateful to all panelists, Including AEMO, Ausnet and FIreSafe Victoria for their presence and participation.
“While more questions and issues were raised, than answered, we now have a starting point – and I will endeavour to ensure all voices are heard,” she said.
The Shadow Spokesman for Energy, Ryan Smith, the Assistant Shadow Spokesman for Regional Victoria and Agriculture, Richard Riordan and Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson were also part of the meeting and were valuable contributors.
AusNet Services indicated that a proposed project corridor is expected to be ready by November, with more “engagement opportunities” made available to the public.
Work on the EES is expected to start soon.
“Given the complete absence of Labor representatives on this issue – the Coalition members both State and Federal – will take up the fight for our local communities,” said Mrs McArthur.
“With the State Government failing to give a damn, the Federal Environment and Energy Ministers will be advised of the scenario”.
10 September 2020