![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2025\/03\/IMG_9823_71238.jpg\")
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Liberal federal candidates Paula Doran (Ballarat) and Simmone Cottom (Hawke) also were present.<\/p>\n
Speakers included Ms Muir, who lives at Myrniong, Moorabool Shire mayor Cr Paul Tatchell and Lexton CFA brigade captain Matt Briody.<\/p>\n
Ms Muir said Cr Tatchell asked simply ‘where do you plug it in?’ while Mr Briody said his brigade does not have the training nor the equipment to deal with the “new industrialised landscape” of a transmission line.<\/p>\n
The Australian Energy Market Operator selected AusNet to deliver the project following a tender process in December 2019.<\/p>\n
But communities in its path are refusing to accept what they claim is increased bushfire danger from the overhead lines, an irreversible loss of agricultural land, destruction of native habitat and biodiversity, and the economic burden placed on landholders and regional communities while others reap the rewards.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
HOLD the line, don’t sign \u2013 that’s the position taken at Monday night’s community meeting in Ballan about the controversial Western Renewables Link project. An estimated 200 people attended the Western Victorian Community Alliance meeting at the Ballan Recreation Reserve, prompting alliance spokesperson Emma Muir to comment that residents and landowners are “really fired up”. […]<\/p>\n