News
Page 8 The Moorabool News – 30 November, 2021
Email - news@themooraboolnews.com.au
Underground option condemned
By Lachlan Ellis
Black Friday is regarded as the first day of the Christmas shopping season, however, it was a bleak day for landowners in Moorabool as AusNet announced the proposed power line route, removing the southern areas of interest from the ‘single corridor’ it proposed in June. WVTNP Executive Project Director, Stephanie McGregor said in a media release that determining this proposed route is a positive step toward unlocking more clean, renewable energy as the state moves to sustainable green power in coming years. “Sharing the proposed route now will ensure much-needed clarity for around 220 of the 460 landholders that were within the single corridor. They now have the confirmation that their property is not on the proposed route,” she said. Emma Muir, Campaign Chair of Stop AusNet’s Towers, argued that the community had been shut out by AusNet. "This announcement comes as a bitter message to the community who have opposed this project from day one. AusNet have not listened or acted upon the vast concerns brought to them by the community and businesses,” she said. “AusNet have not undertaken comprehensive EES (Environment Effects Statement) studies across all areas as they claim, and this announcement is premature. This announced route mirrors the same hypothetical line that we drew on a map 14 months ago, it is essentially a straight line that delivers the cheapest option for AusNet but the most impactful and dangerous option for the community." And undergrounding the route has fallen on deaf ears as around 10am last Friday, AusNet, the operator of the proposed transmission line, put out a media release claiming that undergrounding the line would “cost approximately 16 times more” than building it overhead. The Stop AusNet’s Towers protest group and Moorabool Shire Council have criticised the new report on the Western Victoria Transmission Network Project (WVTNP), which discredited an undergrounding of the line. AusNet’s investigation, the release goes on, “has found that undergrounding the transmission line would require significant soil and vegetation removal and disturbance of Aboriginal cultural heritage, would limit opportunities for
Council would like to again encourage decision makers to listen to the people. - Mayor Tom Sullivan This announced route mirrors the same hypothetical line that we drew on a map 14 months ago. - Emma Muir future renewable development, and not meet the technical availability and reliability requirements of the electricity system”. “As a result, overhead construction has been recommended by the investigation.” the statement read. Just hours later, AusNet’s media release was rebuffed by Moorabool Mayor Cr Tom Sullivan, and community protest group Stop AusNet’s Towers. In his statement, Cr Sullivan expressed his dismay at Council being unable to give its input before the announcement was made. “While it is understood that AusNet has investigated underground, it is incredibly disappointing that Council was not invited to provide input into their exploration of underground options, and that there was no opportunity to do so prior to the proposed route being announced,” Cr Sullivan said. “Council will also be reaching out to impacted landowners to offer any technical support required to confirm the alignment and the location of towers on their land. “Council would like to again encourage decision makers to listen to the people and provide for renewable energy outcomes that do not carry unacceptable burdens for all rural communities, city centres, and all of Victoria.” The figure of “16 times more” for undergrounding, as stated by WVTNP, compared to overhead power lines, contrasts greatly with the “around 5.7 times the cost” found by the report Moorabool Council commissioned in June, and even the “up to 10 times more” from AEMO’s ‘Western Victoria Renewable Integration Project Assessment Draft Report’.
AUSNET RESPONDS The office of Stephanie McGregor was contacted by the Moorabool News, to ask why AusNet’s new underground estimate was so much higher, but Ms McGregor was unavailable to comment. Instead, a WVTNP spokesperson responded to our enquiries. “Several independent consultants contributed to the undergrounding investigation, including the preparation of cost estimates, which found that undergrounding the transmission line would be in the order of 16 times more expensive than overhead,” the spokesperson said. “While cost isn’t everything, it is a major consideration as it is electricity users who will ultimately pay for this project. “A range of options to reduce impacts along the route will continue to be investigated as part of the Environment Effects Statement, including sections of underground construction, different designs and structures for affected areas.”
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE December 2021 Moorabool North Wind Farm
Progress to date • Up to 75MW (27 turbines) opera�ng Look ahead • AEMO Compliance (Hold Point) tes�ng to con�nue – increased opera�ons, in 2022
Moorabool South Wind Farm
Progress to date • Pre-Commissioning of all Fi�y-Four (54) turbines complete Look ahead • AEMO Compliance (Hold Point) tes�ng to begin in 2022, leading to opera�ons
Moorabool Wind Farm Contact Details
The Moorabool wind farm Informa�on Centre at 120 Inglis Street, Ballan is now closed permanently. The team at Moorabool are s�ll available to respond to ques�ons, queries, or complaints. To contact us or to register for future electronic project updates please use the following methods: • 1800 019 660 • info@mooraboolwindfarm.com • via Helen Kennedy, Community Engagement Manager at helenkennedy@goldwindaustralia.com
Landscape and Visual Screening Program
Owners of residen�al dwellings within 4km of the Moorabool Wind Farm are to par� cipate in aimage landscape and visual screening program. igureinvited 1 Computer generated of Moorabool North Wind Farm from the corner of Ballan Meredith Road /Egerton Bungeeltap Road and Hamils Lane. ooking north west This is to assist those closest neighbours in reducing the poten�al visual The team at Moorabool mage of Moorabool Wind Farm from theare corner of Ballan Road /Egerton Bungeeltap Road and Hamils Lane. impacts of theNorth project. All agreed works undertaken by Meredith Moorabool Wind Wind Farm wish you all Farm at no cost to dwelling owners.
Public Road Resurfacing at MOORABOOL Moorabool South Wind Farm
a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
NORTH WIND FARM - CONSTRUCTION UPDATE – July ABOOL NORTH 2018 WIND FARM - CONSTRUCTION UPDATE – July
The resealing of sec�ons of Mount Wallace Ballark Road and Bungeeltap South Road is nearing comple�on. Road closuresZenviron, and speedthe reduc� ons contractor appointed by Goldwind for the civil construction and electrical works for will remain in place along sec�ons of the wind farm project, has started the initial stage of works. ThisFor work includes the establishment of Further the roads un�appointed l mid-December. he contractor by Goldwind for the civil construction and electrical works for Informa�on about the project visit:
the temporary construction compound and access roads on the projectwww.mooraboolwindfarm.com area. Construction activity is arm project, has started the initial stage of works. This work includes the establishment of currently focused on the western side of the Ballan-Meredith Rd and will move to the western side info@mooraboolwindfarm.com rary construction compound and access roads on the project area. Construction activity is of the Moorabool River later in the year. ocused on the western side of the Ballan-Meredith Rd and will move to the western side or call 1800 019 660 orabool River later in the year. There will be an increase in construction traffic in the coming weeks due to the movement of