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NO.31 VOL 17
Moorabool News The
Member of
Tuesday 8 August, 2023
INSIDE THIS WEEK... On a musical journey
Horror in Moorabool
RALLY GAINING TRACTION
Big move for Bulls
WER NO PO RE HE LINES
‘The naked farmer’ Glenden Watts is encouraging western Victorians to make their voices heard at Spring Street next week. Photo – Regional Victoria Power Alliance By Lachlan Ellis Powerline protesters will head to State Parliament in tractors and on horseback next week, with plans to make the rally bigger than one held on 8 March 2022. Organised by the new Regional Victoria Power Alliance (RVPA) which formed earlier this year, the ‘Stop the Towers’ tractor rally will kick off at 12.45 pm on Tuesday 15 August, doing laps around Spring Street to raise awareness of the Western Renewables Link. Speeches will also be held from 1pm. The event is being supported by the Moorabool and Central Highlands Power Alliance (MCHPA), whose Chair, Emma Muir, is encouraging locals to get involved. “People can get in touch on our Facebook page regarding bringing tractors, or if you want to come down via a bus, we’re organising buses as well so they can book to go to Spring Street. We want people to bring their signs, tractors, or horses even like last time, and be part of our protest to stop these towers going across 400 kilometres of western Victoria,” Ms Muir told the Moorabool News.
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“I think this event will heighten the awareness of regional Victoria in Melbourne, and let people in the city know we support renewable energy, but there are better ways to do this, we want to highlight this to Melbourne. We’re in this together… but it seems unfair that we [regional Victorians] have to bear the brunt of this enormous infrastructure,” Ms Muir said. Yeungroon farmer and spokesperson for Stop the Towers, ‘the naked farmer’ Glenden Watts, said it was important for landowners to stand up and fight the proposal. “These transmission towers and lines will carve a destructive 100 metre wide easement through highly productive farms in Victoria’s food bowls, through native habitat and bushfire-prone landscapes and alongside protected state parks. They will push their way through where we live and work, impacting all of us and our environment for future generations,” Mr Watts said. “This project will cause immeasurable economic damage to farms and businesses, and irreparable harm to the environment and landscape – to say nothing of the impact on the amenity and liveability of our regions and the wellbeing of
our residents. Even those who live in suburbs such as Melton and Darley will be badly impacted.” Mr Watts said the rally on 15 August was all about raising awareness to the people of Melbourne and politicians. “We will be in our tractors and on the steps of Parliament on 15 August because we want our politicians to see and hear us, we want the people of Melbourne to see and hear us. Landowners and communities throughout regional and rural Victoria should not be expected to bear the burden of these enormous transmission line projects – they should be a central part of the conversation to help devise better solutions that suit different situations,” he said. “All we are asking is for the Victorian Government to Stop the Towers and seriously start looking at more environmentally sustainable energy solutions to support the transition to renewable energy. Victorians will thank them for creating a resilient, future proof network.” For more information and to let the RVPA know you’ll be bringing a tractor, truck, or ute, visit www.eventbrite.com.au and search ‘Stop the Towers Rally’.
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