By Lachlan Ellis<\/p>\n
If they get enough votes in the upcoming state election in November, the Victorian Liberal Nationals has committed to \u201cupgrading transmission lines to western Victoria\u201d as part of a recent energy policy announcement \u2013 but has stopped short of pledging an underground Western Renewables Link.<\/p>\n
In an 18 July Letter to the Editor, Deputy Leader of the Nationals Emma Kealy said the Nationals would \u201cdeliver a sensible plan and real solutions to build the energy system of the future \u2013 meaning more reliable, cheaper and clean power for all Victorians\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Moorabool News asked Ms Kealy whether the Western Renewables Link \u2013 which under the current proposal would consist of 190 kilometres of 85-metre-tall powerlines \u2013 would be put underground, if the Coalition wins the state election on 26 November.<\/p>\n
The Moorabool News\u2019 questions were forwarded on to Shadow Minister for Energy Craig Ondarchie, who said the Western Renewables Link would be re-routed, but could not say with certainty whether it would be overhead or underground.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnlike Labor, the Liberals and Nationals will upgrade the existing terminal station at Bulgana, and re-route the line using largely existing easements which will minimise the impact on farming practices,\u201d Mr Ondarchie told the Moorabool News.<\/p>\n
\u201cAn independent body, VicGrid, will determine which parts of that connecting line will be above and below ground. A Matthew Guy Liberals and Nationals Government will task the EWOV & Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner with investigating what options are available to affected landowners.”<\/p>\n
Chair of Stop AusNet\u2019s Towers, Emma Muir, said Mr Ondarchie\u2019s statements were \u201ca good start, but could go further\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not perfect, but it certainly goes further towards listening to the community, engaging with stakeholders, and having an independent person or VicGrid, which is a government body and not necessarily independent, to assess the impacts of the project on local regional communities,\u201d Ms Muir said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt possibly gets us a seat at the table, which we don\u2019t currently have. They still need to consider the social, environmental, and economic impacts of these projects. If VicGrid propose to do that, then we\u2019re on board, absolutely. Currently, the planning with AEMO is purely done on a RIT-T, which just looks like putting the powerlines in\u2026it doesn\u2019t consider economics, environment, or safety impacts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Muir acknowledged the \u201cbig step\u201d the Opposition was making, in taking responsibility for the Western Renewables Link\u2019s approval.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt least they\u2019re taking ownership of this, the Labor Party don\u2019t even talk about it. It\u2019s a big step for the Opposition to say, \u2018we will change this\u2019, whereas Dan Andrews says it\u2019s not his project,\u201d Ms Muir said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd yet it is his project, because his government is running the Environment Effects Statement, his government will make the planning amendments, he has the final say on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Libs\/Nats newsletter states \u201cA future Liberal Nationals Government will intervene and reroute this transmission project from Bulgana to Sydenham via Mortlake and Lara\u2026utilise existing easements and protect communities across the Waubra, Glendonald, Mount Prospect and Long Forest areas.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Lachlan Ellis If they get enough votes in the upcoming state election in November, the Victorian Liberal Nationals has committed to \u201cupgrading transmission lines to western Victoria\u201d as part of a recent energy policy announcement \u2013 but has stopped short of pledging an underground Western Renewables Link. In an 18 July Letter to the […]<\/p>\n