Transmission line fight broadens

By Lachlan Ellis

Under the current plans for the Western Renewables Link, 70 kilometres of overhead high voltage transmission lines would go through Moorabool Shire, but the local community isn’t the only one concerned.

Moorabool’s neighbours in the Melton area have also organised to protest and question the plans, with their most recent meeting at MacPherson Park in September.

Grant Harrison is a Coimadai resident and also a member of Melton’s Stop AusNet’s Towers, and said AusNet’s plans put the safety and amenity of the park, and the area as a whole, at risk.

“MacPherson Park is a brand-new complex that Melton City Council funded along with AFL Victoria and Melton Football & Netball Club, and costings were in vicinity of $12 million. Now the Labor Government wants to put overhead transmission lines up adjacent to the boundary and entrance of the magnificent sporting and family complex, and in fact, the tower lines will be going right over the entrance,” Mr Harrison said.

“The club met with AusNet weeks ago, and they only then told the club for the first time any firsthand news that it was [along] the preferred route, and that it wouldn’t affect the club as it was not on their boundary, that the towers would blend in the background, and they would only make them 45 metres high not 85 metres high.

“They forgot to say that the power tower would then be side by side towers, so now twice as wide and twice as many.”

Chairperson of Melton’s Stop AusNet’s Towers, Barbara Ford, said AusNet had “played down” the community’s concerns over the powerlines.

“They’re going to come right over the top of the main entrance of the sports ground…AusNet said the council were going to move the main entrance anyway, but the council had no plans to move the main entrance,” Ms Ford told the Moorabool News.

“Anyone that’s aware of the plans around here just can’t believe that in this day and age, they’re proposing these overhead, ugly, monstrous high voltage towers, when other countries are developing greener technology – high voltage direct current underground.”

An AusNet Services spokesperson denied the claims that sporting grounds at MacPherson Park would be directly impacted by the powerline route.

“The decision to update the proposed route at Melton was made after intensive investigations into the visual, environmental and cultural heritage impacts of the project, along with consultation with landholders, businesses and local council. Residents and local sporting groups were also invited to give their input,” AusNet’s spokesperson said.

“The updated route along the northern boundary of MacPherson Park is designed to minimise impacts to Melton Aerodrome and landholders – by following residential property boundaries. The route will also minimise impacts to patches of threatened grasslands and plants.

“At MacPherson Park, sporting grounds are not directly impacted, and tree planting will partially screen views of the transmission line,” the spokesperson said.