Gannawarra Shire Council has formally opposed the VNI West project.
Photo by
Cassandra Miller
Gannawarra Shire Council has expressed its opposition to the VNI West electricity transmission project planned to pass through the municipality.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Last week, councillors approved a notice of motion to oppose the project, the cost of which Mayor Garner Smith said would outweigh the community benefits.
“The project’s proposed route has divided residents, with the current compensation affected landowners will receive being inadequate,” he said.
“This project is only occurring to ensure residents in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne can access electricity when coal-powered infrastructure is shut down in the next 10 to 15 years.”
A 500 kilovolt double-circuit electricity transmission line and associated infrastructure is proposed to pass around Kerang, and a terminal station is proposed at Tragowel.
A map showing the draft proposed corridor of the VNI West project around Gannawarra. Photo: VicGrid/Victoria State Government.
Proposed infrastructure would run between the Bulgana terminal station near Ararat and electricity transmission infrastructure in NSW.
“There is no proposal for our communities, who are hosting this infrastructure, to be compensated in a meaningful way, such as by receiving reduced electricity costs,” Cr Smith said.
The council has previously written to Victorian Energy and Resources Minister Lily D’Ambrosio expressing deep concern regarding the project.
Cr Smith said he was calling on VNI West proponents to help the council work through the issues residents had with the project.
According to Transmission Company Victoria, which is responsible for the project, extensive landholder consultation has been a priority.
A community reference group of 17 representatives from different areas of the draft corridor was established in 2023 to allow for greater collaboration and engagement.
The recently released draft Victorian Transmission Plan, which outlines possible Renewable Energy Zones, has also earmarked parts of Gannawarra for development.
According to VicGrid, 320 to 480mW of wind power, and 930 to 1390mW of solar power are planned for the North West REZ by 2040.
The plan is open to community feedback until Tuesday, June 10.
12°C