‘Shameful’ powerline access guide changed

VICTORIA’S peak farming body has accused the energy market operator of trying to dupe farmers into opening their gates to surveyors for a proposed transmission line corridor.

The Australian Energy Market Operator’s newly created Transmission Company Victoria has amended an information pack for landholders along the proposed VNI West transmission project corridor.

The move comes after the Victorian Farmers Federation raised concerns it misled landowners their properties could be legally accessed without consent.

VFF president Emma Germano said the market operator and the transmission company had informed landholders licensed transmission companies could force access to properties if they declined the $10,000 to open their gates to surveyors.

“AEMO and TCV have not been issued a licence by the Essential Services Commission, and therefore have no ability to force entry onto farms,” Ms Germano said.

“The tactics used by AEMO to try and coerce farmers into signing away their rights is shameful and is yet another example of the way they have acted in bad faith with farming communities.”

TCV corrected the guide on Monday.

The Victoria NSW Interconnector West project aims to connect wind farms in western Victoria via the proposed Western Renewables Link to NSW’s Riverina region.

But the consultation process has been criticised by landholders along the proposed project corridors.

“Had AEMO and the Victorian Government engaged with farmers and communities in good faith from the start, we would not be seeing the widespread opposition to the proposed project,” Ms Germano said.

An Essential Services Commission spokesman said it was aware of concerns information provided by TCV could have given landholders incorrect impressions about land access rights.

“It is very important that stakeholders including landowners receive clear and accurate information relating to decisions that have an impact on them,” a commission spokesman said.

TCV and AEMO’s Victorian planning general manager Nicola Falcon said new transmission infrastructure built in the right places would play an important role in keeping the lights on for Victorians.

“The right place for VNI West needs to be based both on the information we get from the community, and the needs of electricity customers across Victoria,” Ms Falcon said.

“We will be talking to farmers to help work out where the project will be built and how farming and transmission can exist side by side.”

Ms Falcon said landholders hosting transmission infrastructure would be fairly compensated and extensive consultation would continue.

“We also want to work with groups like the VFF, to make sure we are talking to the right people.”

– ADRIAN BLACK/ AAP