AusNet Services announce proposed route for WVTNP

Published on 29 November 2021

Statement from Mayor Cr Tom Sullivan:

Moorabool Shire Council is aware landowners were advised on Friday 26 November that their properties will house the HVAC overhead transmission towers for the Western Victoria Transmission Network Project (WVTNP). This announcement was accompanied by the release of a summary report into AusNet Services (AusNet’s) exploration and elimination of underground options for the transmission line.

While it is understood that AusNet has investigated underground, it is incredibly disappointing that Council was not invited to provide input into their exploration of underground options, and that there was no opportunity to do so prior to the proposed route being announced.

Council commissioned an independent report into undergrounding the transmission line earlier this year, which indicated costs for undergrounding would not be in the realm of what was outlined in AusNet’s summary report released today. Council is seeking peer review by independent experts of the report’s findings.

Council will also be reaching out to impacted landowners to offer any technical support required to confirm the alignment and the location of towers on their land.

The Moorabool community is resilient, but with the impacts of COVID-19 and now entering the Christmas period, the news of transmission towers will be a significant blow.

Council would like to again encourage decision makers to listen to the people and provide for renewable energy outcomes that do not carry unacceptable burdens for all rural communities, city centres, and all of Victoria.

To read the independent underground report commissioned by Council visit: https://www.moorabool.vic.gov.au/

To read AusNet’s underground summary report and proposed route overview visit: https://www.westvictnp.com.au/news/