Power fight heads to Daylesford

The battle to get a controversial powerline plan put underground has headed to Daylesford, “putting state politicians and candidates on notice” in the lead-up to the election.

Community alliance Stop AusNet’s Towers organised a one-kilometre-long convoy circling through Daylesford on Saturday 19 November, following a successful rally in Ballarat in July.

Local residents and tourists cheered on the tractors, utes, trucks, and cars decorated with banners and signs as they passed.

Stop AusNet’s Towers spokeswoman Emma Muir said if AusNet’s plan went ahead, its “destructive 100-metre-wide easement” would “dissect farms in Victoria’s food bowl” and “see bushfire risk skyrocket”.

“If AusNet gets its way, this project will devastate our communities land values will plummet and the amenity and liveability of our region and the wellbeing of residents will decline,” Ms Muir said.

“We represent communities that support real action on climate change and support renewable energy and understand the importance of an energy grid that delivers renewable energy, but demand this transmission be undertaken without the significant cost of food security, cause catastrophic damage to the environment nor put lives at risk from an increased bushfire risk.

Ms Muir said there was “a better way to deliver this project, that delivers the same benefits” – underground.