CALL FOR BROADER REVIEW OF TRANSMISSION PROJECTS

The Victorian Farmers Federation says a pause on compulsory land acquisitions for the Western Renewables Link should lead to a broader rethink of Victoria’s transmission rollout, including VNI West.

The Victorian Government has paused compulsory acquisitions for the project and commissioned an independent assessment of its cost, a move welcomed by the VFF, which says further action is still required.

VFF President Ryan Milgate says the same questions should now be asked about VNI West, including the cost of the project and whether alternatives could reduce the impact on productive farmland and regional communities.

The federation says the recent WRL planning process highlighted concerns around agricultural land use, biosecurity, bushfire risk and the cumulative impact of major infrastructure developments on farming communities.

The VFF says farmers are not opposed to the energy transition, but wants transmission projects properly assessed for their impacts on agriculture, regional economies and local communities.