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Power line group members resign By Benjamin Millar Disgruntled community members have walked away from a consultation group formed only months ago to seek input on the controversial Western Victoria Transmission Network Project (WVTNP). The AusNet Community Consultation Group (CCG) members announced their resignation last week citing misrepresentation and “lack of empathy” from AusNet representatives over plans to install power lines from beyond Ballarat to Sydenham. The group was introduced in April to assist with
community consultation on the project. Members allege that AusNet shared the news of its preferred corridor with the media on June 30 without first informing the CCG members. In a joint statement they said a group of former CCG members are holding a number of WTVNP information nights along the proposed corridor. The first community information night was held at the Waubra Football Club on July 14 and a second community meeting held in Clunes on July 18. The former CCG members are also working on a telephone support service to assist elderly and vulnerable landholders navigate AusNet’s
land access requests, as they begin to conduct surveys and land investigations over the coming months. “This is seen by the group as an essential service to support the mental health and wellbeing of the community,” the statement said. AusNet said the CCG provided valuable input and will continue to play a vital role. “The community consultation group is an additional opportunity to share information about the project with the community and encourage constructive two-way discussion and feedback in a forum run by an independent chair,” it said in a statement.
Running to raise awareness Kelly Conroy is on a mission. Growing up on her family’s property in Bunding, near Ballan, she grew to appreciate the wide open skies above the rolling landscape. But she now fears that will be shattered by the erection of 85-metre towers and high-voltage lines cutting near the family home. To raise awareness of the project she hatched a plan – a 160-kilometre run to highlight just how far the wires will travel and how much of the landscape will be impacted. “The 160 kilometres will be a distance I’ve never done before,” she said. “Last year I ran two 100-kilometre events, I just do it as a hobby not to compete in any way – running makes me really value where I live and the outdoors and my community.” Ms Conroy said a continuous 160-kilometre run will certainly be a physical and mental challenge, but she has been inspired by the work of her community to fight for the transmission lines to be buried underground. “I know so many people in [the community] are working tirelessly while also working and raising families, they are putting so much time and dedication and energy into the campaign opposing it happening and for [the power lines] to go underground,” she said. “It just shows how strongly communities will band together, I wanted to another way we can raise awareness of this and that’s why I’m doing the run.” The original plan had been to carry out the run as part of the Hardcore 100 mile event at the You Yangs over the weekend, but the snap COVID-19 lockdown threw a spanner in the works. Plan B was to devise a 160-kilometre course around regional Victoria close to the family farm, but given the entire state has now been thrown into lockdown, the two-hour limit on exercise has thrown that plan out the window as well. She is now in the process of confirming another day and time in which she can complete the run once restrictions are eased. “Since we put that idea out there, it’s kind
Kelly Conroy with her father and run supporter Archie Conroy. (Supplied)
of brought up the morale out there and been a positive thing for the community,” she said. “The 160 kilometres is a very, very, very long distance and we need to respect it, but it’s about trusting your training and yourself.”
Vision for Melton’s future The Melton community’s aspirations for the area for the next 20 years have been captured in a new council vision. ‘Melton City 2041 – The City We Create’ was developed by members of the community in conjunction with the council. Formed around five key themes, the community vision will be used to guide council’s planning and decision making. The five themes are Our Socially Connected City, Our Thriving Natural Environment, Our Well-Built City, Our Strong Local Economy and Our Actively Engaged People. As part of the consultation process, the council established a community panel to develop the vision statement. Panel member Cheryl Avila, a Burnside resident, said the panel discussed quality education opportunities, transport improvements, health needs, and environmental sustainability. “The five themes in the community vision really resonated with me and it makes me excited for the next 20 years,” she said. “This is what I want for the future and I think it’s what others want for the future of the City of Melton too.” Melton mayor Kathy Majdlik said the community vision will help influence the council’s decisions. “Created by our community, this is an exciting vision that encompasses the many hopes our residents have for the future of their city,” she said. “We will use this as a tool to ensure that our community’s voice, needs and aspirations are at the heart of council’s ongoing work to shape our growing city and meet everyone’s needs.” Benjamin Millar
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The run has already helped raise more than $5000 towards the Stop AusNet’s Towers – Fighting Fund. Further details via mycause. com.au Benjamin Millar
Consultation group members Katherine Myers, Roger Lowery, Glen Jones and Bill Saunders have resigned. (Supplied)
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