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Page 6 The Moorabool News – 12 July, 2022
Email - news@themooraboolnews.com.au
By Lachlan Ellis Planners of a controversial transmission network project are in the sights of Moorabool Shire Council, arguing that three years since Council first lodged its concerns, there has been “no material change”. Council first provided a submission about the Western Renewables Link (formerly the Western Victoria Transmission Network Project) to the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) back in June 2019. In this submission, Council voiced its and the community’s concerns about the planned route for the network, and the potential for environmental and economic damage as a result of building overhead powerlines. Council CEO Derek Madden said it was “unacceptable” to find the issues remained the same, on the three-year anniversary of the submission. “It is unclear why Council and community members were invited to provide input into the project if this was to have no meaningful influence on the actual, tangible outcome. We understand why the community is feeling frustrated, and it also calls into question the credibility of the process,” Mr Madden said. Council has spent the last three years highlighting the flaws in current plans for the Western Renewables Link, including through commissioning an independent report which stated undergrounding the lines would be “around 5.7 times the cost” compared to overhead. This is in stark contrast to the “up to 10 times more” quoted by AusNet and AEMO. The newly elected Albanese Government
All we’re asking Member of
for is a proper consideration
Moorabool News The
EMAIL: news@themooraboolnews.com.au
of the process.
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Powerline concerns remain, three years on Vol 13 No 30
- Mayor Cr Tom Sullivan has recently committed to reforming the RIT-T assessment process for major network projects, deeming RIT-T “not fit for purpose” – but Mayor Cr Tom Sullivan hopes any such reform will apply to the Western Renewables Link, and not just future projects. “We’d like the Albanese Government to restart the process in light of these new requirements. If this started now, they’d have to appeal to the Federal guidelines, and what we’re saying is, the Western Renewables Link hasn’t even been started yet, so surely it should be assessed on the latest requirements,” Cr Sullivan said. “All we’re asking for is a proper consideration of the process. Our take on this is, you have to look at the whole-of-life costs. The impact, going forward, I think is broader than just the bill cost. Undergrounding has been done elsewhere, and it’s a feasible option. “I think sometimes the designers of these things see rural Victoria as some vast hinterland they can criss-cross with powerlines and everything under the sun, for the benefit of Melbourne. Outside of the tram tracks, everyone’s expendable. That’s what it leads you to think, anyway,” he said.
Horizon to be transformed Full story pages 4 and 5
Client: Cross Roads Trading Date: 20/12/17 Mock Up No.: 3
Photo: Helen Tatchell
• Farm Supplies / Equipment • Firewood & Gas • Stock Feed & Pet Food • Horse Supplies • Sand, Soil & Garden • Husqvarna Products • Rain Water Tanks Trading Hours: Monday to Friday 8am–5pm Saturday 8am–4pm Sunday 10am–2pm 461 Old Melbourne Road, Ballan Telephone: 5368 1199
“We have not ignored community concerns” - AusNet RELOCATION
Bernie Shanahan Phone 0429 184 996
LogoDesign
Account(able) Accountants, Financial Planners, Home Loans &
An AusNet spokesperson said the company had not ignored community concerns, and had made changes toFinance planshave for all the network onBacchus community relocated to 97 based Main Street Marsh. feedback. Our Geelong and Melbourne offices remain at the same locations:
87 Pakington Street, Geelong “Local communities do play a vital role in shaping renewable energy infrastructure, like the Western Renewables Link, and weWest thank the community for the feedback 1 Queens Road, Melbourne 3004 and suggestions they have given us so far. We have acted on many of these suggestions, and this had led to,Tofor example, changes to parts of the proposed route and book your appointment call: 5366 1000 www.accountableaccountants.com.au www.accountablefp.com.au further studies into environmental issues,” the spokesperson told the Moorabool news.
“We will continue to work with impacted communities to understand their priorities and how local benefits can be incorporated into this project. “We know undergrounding is an important issue for the community and the project is continuing to investigate partial undergrounding options as part of the Environment Effects Statement process, which will be lodged later this year.”
Window closes for octogenarian By Lachlan Ellis
HISTORY – Back in the Day Bacchus Marsh & District Historical Society
The Dethridge Water Wheels (pictured) were made at the workshop between Meikle Street and Werribee Vale Road in Maddingley. The wheels were fitted to standard size water races, they measured irrigation water and enabled accurate charges for water use. Bacchus Marsh was the only place in Victoria making the wheels. They were named after their designer Charles Dethridge. The workshop opened in 1923, closed in the 1930s depression and was reopened again in the late 1930s. It is unknown when the workshop ceased. Do you have any further information? Contact the society on email - enquiries@bmdhs.org.au
FREE TAX RETURNS FOR APPRENTICES
An 82-year-old Bacchus Marsh man has finally retired this month, selling his window cleaning business after 40 years. Colin Creese has run Bacchus Marsh Window Cleaning Service If you are a fulltime apprentice as of the 30th June 2017 we will since 1982, but officially handed the reins over on Friday 1 July. do your tax return for FREE. Mr Creese said the friendly community and simple enjoyment Call 5366 1000 to make an appointment today of the job had kept him running the business for four decades, but decided that now was the time to finally retire. “I’ve really enjoyed it; I’ve had some lovely customers that were more or less like friends over the years. It’s kept me active and given me a reason to get up in the morning. I miss it already, I’ve been retired for a week and I’m missing the contact with people,” he told the Moorabool News. “It’s a bit bittersweet after all this time. Forty years was a good milestone to reach, so I thought I might as well pack up now. Things have changed drastically during my time in Bacchus Marsh, with the population growth and development, it’s gotten so big…but it’s kept a bit of the country atmosphere, people are still really friendly.” Mr Creese is somewhat famous around the Marsh for always wearing shorts, rain, hail, or shine – often to the amusement of his customers. “I wear shorts all year round, and people always have a go at me for wearing shorts in the middle of winter. I just find it more comfortable as long as my top half is warm, but it’s a bit of a joke around town,” Mr Creese said with a laugh. “And when I did wear long pants in the evening, people would say ‘where have your shorts gone?’.” As for retirement plans, Mr Creese says he’ll get stuck into his gardening and spend more time going out with his wife, and Colin Creese cleans his last window after a 40-year career would also like to travel if his health allows. in the business. Photo - submitted