Hundreds turn out to put views on VNI West route

LANDOWNERS in the 1km-wide VNI West preferred corridor will be contacted next month.

Transmission Company Victoria on Tuesday said the corridor between Bulgana, near Stawell, and Kerang would be made public after landowner talks.

The corridor will be between 500 metres and 1km wide running between Wedderburn and Charlton and through the Boort district,

A spokesperson said: “We have not yet commenced direct landholder engagement, so have not had any discussions about land access for field studies or access payments.”

TCV’s $10,000 offer to landowners for access has been criticised by the Victorian Farmers’ Federation.

The company was also forced to update information brochures during community consultation when it was confirmed TCV did not have authority to enter land.

The last of five consultation sessions was held in St Arnaud on Saturday when 103 people attended to make known their views on the project.

TCV said 72 people had attended the first session in Boort, while Navarre had 48, Kerang 81 and Charlton 89.

The company’s Nicola Falcon