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PAGE 2
YAY FOR YARRAM PAGE 10
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The Heyf yfield f Timber Festival was held over the weekend. It was the first festival since the decision to end native att were not deterred, logging came into eff ffect, f ttendees t flocking from across the state. STORY - PAGES 4-5
POWER GRIDLOCK Philip Hopkins
CONFUSION reigns among farmers and other landowners in southern Gippsland as the state government’s new kid on the block, VicGrid, has pushed aside their negotiations with existing companies over the various transmission projects that will be built across the region under the government’s renewable energy policy. This comes from the background of the blackouts caused by storms last week that brought down transmission lines and electricity poles that led to the temporary closure of the Loy Yang A power station. VicGrid, formed last year, specifically emphasises its role to coordinate the integration of transmission projects into the existing electricity network to avoid a ‘spaghetti effect’ of transmission lines across the landscape, and higher costs for consumers. Gippsland’s Renewable Energy Zone
(G-REZ) aims to create infrastructure, centred on a single high voltage transmission line, that will connect Gippsland’s renewable energy projects, particularly those planned offshore, into the electricity grid through the Latrobe Valley’s existing power network. AusNet Services, which runs the electricity transmission and distribution networks in Gippsland, had been driving the development of G-REZ until the creation of VicGrid. On its website, AusNet says it supports the role of VicGrid in leading the transmission project planning and development in Victoria. While VicGrid progresses its work, AusNet says it has slowed down some of its activities on G-REZ, including deferring meetings of its community advisory group and some works related to its Environment Effects Statement. Planned and existing projects include the high voltage transmission line; the first offshore windfarm, Star of the South, which is developing its own
transmission line; CarbonNet’s carbon capture and storage development, and; the existing BassLink and proposed Marinus Link, both of which are linked to Tasmania. Marinus Link is a proposed undersea and underground electricity and telecommunications interconnector between Tasmania and the Latrobe Valley. VicGrid’s zone of interest runs from near Wurruk to Paradise Beach, a point between Manns Beach and Port Albert, and expanding past Alberton. Dozens of farmers are affected by the proposals. The ultimate design, whether overhead, underground or a combination of both, will depend on different factors - whether the commercial model works, the community feedback, and further environmental and technical studies, AusNet says on its website. Gippsland forms an integral part of the state government’s offshore wind targets, which are more than two gigawatts (GW) of power by 2032, 4GW by 2035 and 9GW by 2040.
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VicGrid’s chief executive, Alistair Parker, said the state government had stepped in to coordinate the transmission to minimise impacts on local communities, cultural heritage and the environment - keeping energy bills down and securing Victoria’s renewable energy future. “We’re taking local communities, Traditional Owners and landholders with us every step of the way through ongoing consultation, to ensure we achieve the best social, environmental and cultural outcomes for our state,” he said. “We carried out local and state-wide community attitude surveys alongside a survey on Engage Victoria and asked people to place pins on an interactive map to share local insights - in addition to a series of community events including roundtables in Giffard and Flynn and a series of drop-in sessions and pop ups at local markets and events.
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