Mayor in Canberra tackling AEMO, water concerns CAPITAL VOICE

FEARS more water buy-

backs will cripple

Loddon

irrigation farms about to be dotted 80-metre high transmission are being voiced in Canberra.

Loddon Mayor Dan Straub flew to the national capital on Tuesday with other leaders from Murray River Group of Councils.

The local government group

By CHRIS EARL

was expected to meet with Federal Government ministers and advisors yesterday before returning to Victoria this morning.

Before leaving for Canberra, Cr Straub said the group, originally formed as a voice for councils in irrigation districts, would take concerns on “the two big issues at the moment” to ministers, push- ing collective cases for better consultation on Australian Energy Market Operator transmission line plans and opposition to more water buybacks in Victoria.

“Communities in all of the council areas that include Gannawarra and Swan Hill want to better leverage the future of local communities who are within the declared renewable energy zone,” Cr Straub said.

“And we all want that to include social licence for our areas,” he said. “We won’t be railroaded and we want far better and proper consultation on AEMO plans.”

A decision on the final route for VNI West transmission line is expected with in days.

Cr Straub said the delegation would also tell the Federal Government that water buybacks across the region would be “detrimental to irrigation communities and our surrounding towns.”