EES delayed to “late 2022”

By Lachlan Ellis

AusNet Services has officially moved the submission date for its Environment Effects Statement (EES), two days after Moorabool Shire Council called for an update on the Western Victoria Transmission Network Project (WVTNP).

Council called on AusNet last Tuesday to “address the uncertainty and concern” in the community around the project’s timeframes, with AusNet’s 2021 Consultation Plan stating the EES would be publicly exhibited by mid-2022.

Mayor Cr Tom Sullivan said the EES exhibition was an “important opportunity for community input”, and urged AusNet to provide an update “to give those with an interest in the project sufficient time to prepare”.

On the evening of Thursday 7 April, AusNet put out a media release which stated the company had “revised the EES submission date to enable more time to consult with landholders prior to submitting the EES on the proposed route, and complete the field surveys and investigations required”.

“The submission date for the EES to the Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning (DELWP) has now been revised from mid-2022 to late-2022,” the media release read.

“Other factors including COVID restrictions, workforce isolations, additional Technical Reference Group review requirements, together with regional flooding around the Ballarat area have also influenced timelines for the EES submission.”

Speaking to the Moorabool News after AusNet’s announcement, Cr Sullivan said the delayed release was “a double-edged sword”.

“It’s dragging on a very long time I think, which makes it hard on people and puts a lot of stress on them. The fact that it’s taking so long, and now it’ll take even longer, makes it even worse I think,” he said.

“It cuts both ways…you’d like to think their consultation will improve [with the extra time]. We don’t know if that will be the case, but we hope it will be. Hopefully when the EES is released it’s a very thorough process, and not just paying lip service”.

To read the full story – Simply click on the following link

https://issuu.com/themooraboolnews/docs/mn_2022-04-12/10

in the 12 April 2022 edition
OR
pick up a paper around your town.