Farmers in the path of a major cross-border power transmission line are vowing to lock their gates against project developers that have been given the power to access their farms without permission.
The Victoria-New South Wales Interconnector (VNI) West transmission line is part of the Australian Energy Market Operator’s plan to transport energy between states as more renewables come online.
The Essential Services Commission has granted an electricity transmission licence to Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) – the company behind VNI West – to construct the line, which will be about 240 kilometres long, through western Victoria, linking the state to NSW.
According to the Electricity Industry Act the licence means TCV does not need permission from landowners to enter their property.
Some farmers landholders whose properties are earmarked to host transmission towers are furious.
Marnoo district farmers have been among the most vocal opponents of VNI West. (Supplied: VFF)
Mark Reading’s broadacre cropping farm in Wallaloo is among those set to be affected.
He said farmers would put up fierce opposition to TCV workers.
“The gates are locked and we’re not going to let them in — it’s as simple as that,” Mr Reading said.
“We’ll fight back for sure — it doesn’t worry me if we’re charged or whatever.”
Mr Reading said installing1.5km of transmission lines on his property would disrupt the way he farmed.
“It’s ridiculous,” he said.
“It’s un-Australian and it’s being forced on us without any consent or any consideration.”
Farmers have previously travelled to Melbourne to protest against VNI West. (Supplied: Kathleen Luke)
‘Extensive consultation’
A TCV spokesperson said the licence would not change the way the company consulted with landholders.
“Construction and commissioning are some time away — the current role of TCV is one of development,” they said.
The spokesperson confirmed a new “owner/operator” for the project would eventually take over from TCV.
One of the conditions of TCV being granted a licence was that it would give advanced notice of any sale of the company.
“TCV will continue to lead project development, onboarding the new development partner team to ensure continuity in relationships and a thorough understanding of the issues and concerns raised during community, traditional owner, and landholder engagement over the past two years,” the spokesperson said.
Gerard Brody says submissions from farmers were considered during the assessment of the licence application. (ABC News: Billy Draper)
Essential Services Commission chair Gerard Brody said due process had been adhered to during the licence application assessment.
“That followed an extensive consultation process and careful consideration of views put forward,” he said.
“We listened to those concerns closely and agreed with some of the issues raised, which led us to place several conditions on the licence we’ve granted.”
Additional conditions include a requirement for TCV to give advanced notification of the use of land access powers and for it to have its technical capacity reassessed prior to transmitting electricity.
“Landowners are also able to raise any complaints with the Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria,” Mr Brody said.
Gerald Feeney says farmers “have had a gutful”. (Supplied: Deb Feeney)
‘Torn up the rule book’
VNI West will not be built on Gerald Feeney’s property between St Arnaud and Donald but he has taken a leading role in supporting affected farmers, who he said had been treated poorly.
“When you drill down on this, it’s very nasty by the state and federal governments to push their rights on top of farmers to get what they want,” he said.
“They are going to try to force us and use the law, courts and the police to force us.
“That is the ugly face of renewables — that is the ugly face of this transition by 2030.
“They’ve torn up the rule book, they’ve thrown it out and they denied us access to VCAT for any recourse to this.”
Last year the Victorian government announced plans to accelerate renewable energy projects, which included removing third-party appeals to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
Mr Feeney said any goodwill toward renewables projects in his community had been lost.
“We are not backing down — we have had a gutful of what’s going on and we’re not going to put up with it,” he said.
“Sometimes you’ve got to stand up and say, ‘It’s wrong. It’s simply wrong.'”
