Compensation cloud

RELEASE of the landholder compensation formula would improve transparency and integrity of the VNI West project, Loddon Mayor Dan Straub said on Tuesday,

Cr Straub made the call after councillors met with Australian Energy Market Operator officials in Wedderburn.

The Mayor had also been in talks with the State Government as part of a Murray River Group of Councils delegation to Melbourne last week.

He said talks with the Government and AEMO on the latest preferred transmission route through the Loddon Shire had not revealed compensation details and community benefits.

“The formula for compensation should be revealed. Otherwise, willing landholders may get a minimum amount compared with squeaky wheels,” Cr Straub said. “Not on a case-by-case basis as they say it will be.”

Transmission Company Victoria, formed by AEMO to deliver the line strung from 80-metretall towers between Bulgana and Kerang, says landholders who host the infrastructure “will receive compensation for any loss of land value and productivity from the VNI West project, including payments for professional services, disturbance, and land valuations”.

“In addition to compensation, landholders hosting the transmission will benefit from the Victorian government’s commitment to pay them $8000 per linear kilometre per annum for 25 years.” The Loddon Herald has not had a response to a request to AEMO for detail on the compensation package.

What the neighbours say ...

Cr Straub said Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio had initially told the council group that VNI West consultations “had gone well”.

“I think she was quite unaware of the situation on the ground,” he said. “She was quickly informed that it had been anything but smooth.

“The social licence in Loddon quickly went south and people lost an appetite for the project.”

Cr Straub said Loddon communities needed to leverage benefits from VNI West and be told how much “is in the bucket for legacy improvements ... better roads, better digital connectivity, community projects”.

AEMO representatives had given council hope that the next phase of community consultation would be more robust, Cr Straub said.