Gate calls could start from today

THE route of 80-metre tall high-voltage transmission towers through the Loddon could be known within a month.

Australia Energy Market Operation at the weekend released its new preferred Option 5A for the Victoria-NSW interconnector.

Direct talks with landowners could start as early as today, some included in “identified land of interest” for the first time after Saturday’s release of the government-owned AEMO’s third preferred route in nine months.

The new route has been moved north after Wedderburn and now straddles up to 30km each side of Boort through dryland and irrigation farms, major olive groves, significant Aboriginal sites and environmentally-sensitive areas before heading towards Kerang.

AEMO spokesman Jonathon Geddes said: “The major change from Option 5 to 5A was primarily due to stakeholder feedback to avoid sensitive cultural areas, habitat of the endangered Plainswanderer, ecotourism and prime irrigation land by crossing the Murray River north of Kerang (Murray River Group of Councils).

“Also, (it is) in response to some frustration that the previous area of interest bypassed communities wanting the infrastructure to support renewable generation development in their shire.”

The Project Assessment Conclusions Report released at the weekend says Option 5A has the potential to harness more re- newable generation in the Murray River REZ than Option 5 and “provides greater opportunity for diversity of supply and helps maintain social licence in Gannawarra”.

Mr Geddes said that in July, once landholders who might host the infrastructure have been notified, the new AEMO company for VNI West -Transmission Company Victoria - would publish details of the corridor

By spring, an indicative route of between 200 and 400 metres wide will be identified for environmental surveys.

“This timetable will provide clarity for landholders and allow TCV to engage directly with farmers and property owners and discuss issues such as land access, compensation and benefits,” AEMO said.

Victorian planning group manager Nicola Falcon said on Saturday that “significant consultation and stakeholder feedback” had contributed to the proposed option that maximised benefits to electricity consumers and unlocks Victoria’s renewable energy potential.

“We thank all the farmers, community groups, councils and traditional owners who have contributed to the consultation, which will continue as the transmission line design is finalised,” she said.

“The feedback received has helped us identify a preferred option for the critical transmission

Shifting Options

August 2022 - Bendigo-Kerang through Prairie West

February 2023 - Bulgana to Echuca

May 2023 - Bulgana to Kerang line – a variant of the previously proposed option – that delivers the most benefits for consumers and more electricity generation from three renewable energy zones in Victoria and NSW.

“By crossing the Murray River further north-west, the project can also avoid some sensitive cultural areas and prime irrigation land identified in feedback from local communities and avoid the habitat of the endangered Plainswanderer,” she said.

“The five to 50km-wide area of interest was developed using valuable information from landholders and community members, along with extensive engineering and environmental assessments, including ecology, cultural heritage, landscape and visual amenity, agricultural activities and proximity to settlements,” Ms Falcon’s statement said.

AEMO wants the project approved by early 2026 and construction finished in four years.

What will next step talks look like? Details to come

LANDOWNERS across the Loddon have been promised a different style of consultation as AEMO refines plans for a definite VNI West route through the region.

AEMO copped a barrage of complaints from farmers, Loddon Shire and other groups for its style of consultation on Option 5 released in February.

Local pop-up sessions are not on AEMO’s agenda as it reduces “land of identified interest” up to 50km north to south to a few hundred metres.

A spokesman said on Monday, that while detail was still to be released on some parts of engagement, it would include: z Talks with regional representatives and stakeholder groups and with communities who will potentially host the infrastructure to understand priorities, opportunities, and constraints through the work to narrow the corridor to a route;

Wait on minister behind Saturday night release of new route area

A “TECHNICAL GLITCH” gave the headsup last Thursday night that AEMO had settled on its third preferred route in nine months for the VNI West high-voltage interconnector.

By 10.30 Friday morning, the Option 5A map had been removed from AEMO’s website after inquiries by the Loddon Herald.

“We had a ‘tech’ glitch with our website and apologise. We’re still working towards publishing the final report, submissions and information on next steps (consultation, compensation, land access, etc).”

AEMO later told other stakeholders: “Some information on the VNI West pro- ject that was being prepared for publishing on the AEMO website was inadvertently published.”

Confirmation of the new “land of identified interest” map came about 5.30pm Saturday, two hours after the State Government announced a second ministerial order in three months to fast-track the project.

AEMO responded to criticism of the Saturday evening announcement saying: “Unfortunately the timing of the announcement was influenced by the gazetting of the ministerial order, apologies.” z Establishing local community reference and consultative groups as forums for community representatives to collaborate with the project teams to further develop and refine the study corridor; z Undertaking direct engagement with potentially affected landholders; z Online interactive maps that can be used by community members to provide geolocated input and feedback for consideration in the route refinement process. z Community information session events and information sessions in each Victorian local council area. A series of booths will provide information on a range of key topics such as farming and bushfire risk. z A series of face-to-face engagement events in impacted communities in New South Wales.

A VNI West project specific website went live on Monday - 48 hours after the Option 5A map dust had settled.

Community pop-ups were held in Boort and Wedderburn during consultation in March on Option 5.

VNI West project ‘critical to deliver cheaper, renewable energy’

MINISTER for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio says her latest ministerial order means AEMO “progress the critical VNI-West project, which will better connect the Victoria and NSW energy grids”.

“Progressing critical transmission projects like VNI West is necessary to deliver cheaper, more reliable renewable energy to Victorian homes and businesses,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.

“There can be no energy transition without new transmission infrastructure – as Victoria moves towards 95 per cent renewables by 2035, we have a duty to modernise our electricity network.”

She said the VNI West project still required relevant planning and environ- mental approvals, which would provide more opportunities for community members and traditional owners to share their views on the project.

Ms D’Ambrosio said the ministerial order had been implemented to progress AEMO’s preferred option, which connects VNI West to the planned Western Renewables Link at a terminal station at Bulgana, near Stawell, then linking to a terminal station near Kerang before crossing the Murray River north of Kerang.

“The Victorian Government is accelerating key electricity transmission projects to secure an affordable and reliable supply of renewable energy for homes and businesses across Victoria,” she said.