Power transmission line riles landholders in its path

Communities along the path of a proposed high-voltage transmission line demand the plug be pulled on the project.

Transmission Company Victoria on Wednesday released its preferred easement report for the 240km Victorian section of the VNI West project, but landowner opposition to the plans remains strong.

"We're not having it," sixth-generation Gre Gre farmer Jason Barratt said.

"It's just not happening."

The project, a second high-voltage transmission link between Victoria and NSW to shore up renewable energy supply, has been fiercely opposed by landowners and communities in the project's path in central northwest Victoria.

Locals have said the lines would pose a fire risk, make firefighting more difficult and restrict the use of machinery on farms around and under the power lines.

VNI West Program Director Tony Hedley said the public release aligns with the project's commitment to prioritise communications with landholders with properties within the planned transmission route.

"Contacting landholders over the past few weeks has been our priority," Mr Hedley said in a statement.

"We've spoken with more than 180 landholders within the preferred easement and already had more than 30 follow-up meetings to answer questions on topics such as compensation, land valuation, land access, options to minimise impacts to individual farms, and to discuss the next steps."

The route had been identified based on field studies and technical and engineering assessments, the company said, taking into account endangered wildlife and vegetation, areas of cultural heritage and agricultural concerns.

"From Wallaloo East to Glenloth East and north to Tragowel and Kerang, people have provided valuable local insights on a diverse range of topics," Mr Hedley said.

The transmission company defended its record on consultation, which included 770 landowner meetings and 17 community information sessions.

But Mr Barratt said his feedback, and that of his community, had been ignored.

"They've listened to nothing we've said," he said.

"They had it in their plan of where they wanted to put it, and they've just gone ahead and done what they wanted."

Local landowners and neighbouring properties were notified of the proposed route roughly two weeks ago.

Community groups have been writing to the Australian Energy Regulator to deny TCV an electricity transmission licence in order to prevent any potential compulsory land acquisitions.

But resistance wouldn't stop there, Mr Barratt said.

"We'll just stand at the gateway and we will hold them off," he said.

The route is roughly 240km long and 70m wide, linking the proposed Western Renewables Link to a wind farm at Bulgana, then to Tragowel, near Kerang in the state's north, before crossing into NSW and connecting to the Transgrid network.

Victorian Farmers Federation president Emma Germano said the proposed route showed a disregard for strategic agricultural land. 

"From the very outset of this process, we've witnessed a reality that steamrolls over the voices and rights of those in farming communities set to be impacted," Ms Germano said.

"These are areas of strategic significance for Victoria's economy, yet this has never been factored into the planning of the line."

The federation called on the Victorian government to pause both VNI West and Western Renewables Link projects.

Transmission Company Victoria, created by the Australian Energy Market Operator's Victorian planning arm to handle infrastructure rollout, said the final route would be refined through ongoing talks with landowners, traditional owners and communities.

Community information sessions are planned for November in Charlton, Kerang and Stawell. 

Federal Nationals leader David Littleproud said the project would cut through 250 farms on prime agricultural land.

"The farming community is devastated by this decision but is determined to fight it," Mr Littleproud said in a statement.

In June, government agency VicGrid announced a plan to compensate 'significantly impacted' neighbours of transmission line infrastructure with payments of up to $40,000.

Construction on VNI West is expected to begin in 2026.