The MCHPA Expands to Include VNI-West Impacted Communities Under the “Regional Victoria Power Alliance” banner
On 16 May 2023, the Steering Committee of the Moorabool and Central Highlands Power Alliance Inc (the MCHPA) along with leaders of local action groups fighting the Western Renewables Link (WRL) met in Maryborough with leaders of newly established local action groups fighting the (then-proposed) Option 5 route of the Victoria to NSW Interconnector West (VNI West). The main outcome was an agreement for all groups to unite under the banner – Regional Victoria Power Alliance (RVPA).
The MCHPA is a community led incorporated association which was formed in July 2020 as an “umbrella” group representing affected landholder’s, communities, organisations, businesses, and all other individuals and groups who would potentially be impacted by the WRL (formerly known as WVTNP). We all believe that new infrastructure used to transport high voltage electricity from renewable energy sources must be undertaken in a least impactful manner.
The VNI West communities are only just starting their fight but have hit the ground running and several local action groups have already formed. Unfortunately, though, they are now having to deal with a proposed new Option 5A, which was announced on 27 May 2023 and has greatly changed the original Option 5 area of interest for this project.
The purpose of the 16 May meeting was to discuss shared concerns about the Victorian Government and the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) proposing to build 80m high towers on our land to carry 400+ km (WRL plus VNI West) of 500kV overhead transmission lines through our districts, as well as build new terminal stations, all of which will have extensive impact. What everyone at the meeting recognised is that both projects, which will connect at the enlarged Bulgana terminal station near Stawell, must be built to create AEMO and Transgrid’s entire proposed transmission line connecting Melbourne to NSW.
Even AEMO documents going back until around 2017/18 show that they are essentially one line (originally called Snowylink and then renamed Keranglink). Furthermore, the “VNI West and WRL” Ministerial Orders published by the Victorian Government on 20 February 2023 and 27 May 2023 have undeniably revealed how inextricably intertwined both projects are, and that the Victorian Government has now taken full ownership of them!
At the meeting, the MCHPA put a proposal to the VNI West group that they unite under the RVPA banner, which the MCHPA had registered as a business name with ASIC the day before. This expands representation whilst preserving legal action which is already afoot in the name of the MCHPA against AEMO and the Victorian Government. The idea to unite was unanimously agreed to! This does not mean that those who are fighting either project lose their ability to organise locally and make decisions that address their concerns, but it does mean that this strategic Alliance, which will be managed by a larger RVPA Steering Committee with members from along the lines of both projects, will have greater resources and a louder voice in the fight against both projects. The intent is to ensure that local action groups can connect and work within each region, unified under the enlarged RVPA umbrella.
The RVPA’s purpose and objectives now reflect all our concerns about the impacts and heightened risks from both the WRL and VNI West transmission line projects to the landholders and communities within the respective proposed corridors. We will all advocate on behalf of our members and the environment and demand that these projects be reassessed using a comprehensive triple bottom line process to determine if they are needed at all and to comprehensively understand their impacts.
We are confident that this Alliance will strengthen our collective fight, bolster community morale, increase our resources, help with fundraising for campaign and legal action, and ultimately deliver superior outcomes.
Updates on the status of the legal action already commenced by the MCHPA will be provided in an upcoming Newsletter.
Related Information:
AEMO Consultation Report: https://aemo.com.au/-/media/files/electricity/nem/planning_and_forecasting/victorian_transmission/vni-west-rit-t/vni-west-consultation-report—options-assessment.pdf?la=en
Victorian State Government Ministerial Order 20 Feb: http://www.gazette.vic.gov.au/gazette/Gazettes2023/GG2023S060.pdf
Victorian State Government Ministerial 27 May Order: https://www.gazette.vic.gov.au/gazette/Gazettes2023/GG2023S267.pdf
The Development of the Western Renewables Link and VNI-West will be a Monumental Mistake
In its recent Consultation Report, the Australian Energy Market Operator (Victorian Planner) presented various options for Western Renewables Link and VNI West (“WRL-VNI”). Built at 500 kilo-Volts (kV) it will start on the outskirts of Melbourne and extend through Western Victoria and then head north into NSW. AEMO’s preferred option, if developed, will be the biggest single expense in the Victorian transmission system in more than 50 years and the biggest mistake in transmission planning in living memory.
Read stories here:
https://tasmaniantimes.com/2023/04/aemo-making-monumental-mistake/
ALLIANCE BRINGS LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST STATE GOVERNMENT
REAL ACTION TO CANCEL THIS DUD PROJECT
NOBODY IS ABOVE THE LAW
SAVE YOUR HOMES, FAMILY, BUSINESS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
This project presents devastating and generational impacts and risks to our lives, our homes, our business and the environment. Bushfire risks will skyrocket, land will become unusable, agricultural and tourism business will be unviable and our precious environment will be pillaged. Land values will plummet. Several landowners have already had their properties devalued by more than $1 million due to the impact of the proposed 100m wide transmission corridor. And the WRL isn’t even approved yet!