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LIFELINE FOR MOE GROUP PAGE 5
Razzle dazzle
The world’s best known basketball team was in Gippsland last Thursday. HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS VISIT - PAGE 39
By LIAM DURKIN
DATES for the 2026 Commonwealth Games were announced last week. The Games, to be held in Regional Victoria, will run from March 17 to 29, 2026, with the Opening Ceremony to be held Tuesday, March 17. Gippsland was chosen along with Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong as a host region earlier this year. More specifically, Latrobe City will act as the hub for Gippsland throughout the duration of the Games, in what is set to be a major boost to tourism and the economy. Badminton will take place at the Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium, Traralgon, Rugby Sevens at Latrobe City Sports and Entertainment Centre, Morwell and cricket at Ted Summerton Reserve, Moe.
Powering through By MICHELLE SLATER
AUSNET has unveiled its preferred route for a high voltage transmission line that will run from Giffard through to Hazelwood, helping develop a raft of renewable energy projects in the region. The proposed route will run south of the Princes Highway and plug into an AusNet terminal station at Hazelwood. It includes crossing through 48 private properties as well as through corporate and public land; however, the route is subject to change pending further feedback and technical studies. The power line is being developed as part of the Gippsland Renewable Energy Zone to transmit electricity from 11 gigawatts of planned renewables projects. Construction could start in 2025 or 2026 subject to regulatory approvals
and would provide 2100 jobs and then 140 long term jobs over 25 years. The project will also need to be referred to the Planning Minister to determine if an Environmental Effects Statement is required. An AusNet spokesman said the final design could include a combination of overhead and underground cables, depending on community engagement, environmental and technical studies. The spokesman said AusNet had spoken with all landowners along the proposed route before releasing the draft. He said AusNet initially considered several possible corridors including north and south of the Holey Plains State Park. “Based on available information, the preferred route minimises the impact with other land uses and sensitive areas,
NAIDOC WEEK ARTWORK
and maximises the opportunities for renewable energy generators to connect into G-REZ,” the spokesman said. “AusNet is committed to delivering a solution that works for all parties including the community, other key stakeholders and renewable energy proponents.” G-REZ is one of the first renewable energy zone projects in Victoria, which will connect locally-generated renewables to the grid - including the potential for offshore wind. It would reduce the need for multiple transmission lines crossing Gippsland from independent renewable energy projects. The AusNet spokesman said G-REZ would be partially funded by renewables developers in return for access to the grid. Continued on page 10
READER’S HAVE THEIR SAY - LETTERS - PAGES 20-21
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