Transmission guide released Rubbish to be removed

Dale Barry says the rubbish has been identified as medical waste originating from Brighton Hospital. Photo –Submitted

By Lachlan Ellis

VicRoads says waste on the Western Freeway will soon be disposed of, after a local resident complained of medical waste dumped near Pykes Creek.

Dale Barry from Myrniong spotted the rubbish adjacent to the bridge at Pykes Creek Reservoir, and made “numerous calls to VicRoads and Melbourne Water”, but said despite this, “nothing has been initiated to investigate the numerous bags of rubbish”.

But when contacted regarding the waste, the Department of Transport and Planning said it was aware of the site in question, and was working to clean it.

“Illegal dumping remains an ongoing challenge for the Department - we will attend the site and rectify this issue in the coming days,” the Department’s Regional Director Grampians, Simon Grant, told the Moorabool News.

“We encourage everyone to dispose of their rubbish in a responsible manner and to be aware of the impact that roadside dumping can have on the surrounding environment.”

All illegal dumping should be reported to the EPA by contacting 1300 372 842 (1300 EPA VIC).

Fines for littering from a vehicle range from $370 to $740.

To report any issues or hazards on the road network, call the VicRoads hotline on 131 170.

By Lachlan Ellis

A new guide on social licence for energy transmission projects has been released – and its author has grave concerns over a local project’s compliance.

The Energy Grid Alliance released the ‘Evidence-based engagement guidelines for electricity transmission’ last month, explaining that as the transition away from fossil fuels continues, project planners must be “credible, legitimate, and trustworthy” to get the approval of local communities.

The guide outlines a number of ways that project planners can gain social licence, including providing access to reliable information, encouraging fact checkers and independent media outlets to verify information, and communicating uncertainties.

And while the guide doesn’t mention AusNet Services’ controversial Western Renewables Link (WRL), Energy Grid Alliance Director Darren Edwards said the company was unlikely to ever acquire social licence.

“I struggle to see how AusNet Services can ever acquire social licence for the WRL. Social licence for this project was lost in 2017 when the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) commenced the Regulatory Investment Test for Transmission (RIT-T). The public were not aware of this project until mid-2020 when all decisions had been made and landholders were contacted requesting access to their land for the new transmission development,” Mr Edwards told the Moorabool News.

“Landholders and regional communities were completely blind-sided. From that point, all credibility, legitimacy, and trust (the three pillars of social licence) were lost, not only for AusNet but for the network planning process and its supporting framework.”

Mr Edwards said that, in fairness, the loss of social licence was not AusNet Services’ doing, and it “has battled ever since to recover from that loss”, but “has not done itself any favours by continuing to keep the public at arm’s length”.

“The energy market and its participants can do a great deal more to forget about trying to gain acceptance for transmission infrastructure and focus more on being ‘good corporate citizens’. Show genuine respect, be honest and transparent, be open to scrutiny, and be willing to listen and have the tough conversations,” he said.

AusNet Services was contacted for comment on the guide, and a spokesperson told the Moorabool News that the company “takes social licence seriously”.

“AusNet Services acknowledges the uncertainty and concern around the Western Renewables Link, particularly for impacted landholders and communities…we are committed to working with local communities to create longstanding social value in the areas impacted by the proposed project,” the spokesperson said.