Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (18:14): (83) My adjournment matter is directed to the Minister for Energy and Resources. The action I seek is that the minister guarantees to set up a proper public consultation process and face-to-face meetings with the people of western and northern Victoria, areas affected by the last-minute addition of a proposed new route for the high-voltage powerline between Victoria and New South Wales. If you will pardon the pun, this has come as a complete shock for these communities. The Australian Energy Market Operator, AEMO, is due to start work early on the project, known as VNI West. The scheme would see a high-capacity overhead line connecting the Western Renewables Link at Ballarat with the new terminal station near Jerilderie in New South Wales. Residents had been led to believe the KerangLink was the preferred option. This would have followed the existing powerline easement from Bendigo through Prairie to Kerang. However, the last-minute addition of so-called option 5 follows a totally different footprint – towards St Arnaud and Pyramid Hill.
It wanders through a range of farming communities over such a wide area it is hard to pin down where it will actually go. Some locals believe the government has simply taken the route of least resistance. Sadly, given the importance and scope of this project there has been minimal consultation with residents and councils. This is a complete change of direction for this multibillion-dollar project. There is no detail and only a few short weeks for consultation, currently closing on 5 April. I attended a briefing with AEMO at the Murray River Group of Councils in Echuca last week, and it was evident that they would like the time frame for public consultation extended. I also commend the Loddon Herald for standing up for the communities in this area and bringing this issue to the forefront of people’s minds. Again I ask that the minister guarantee she will extend the public consultation period and set up a proper consultation process with the affected communities on this very important issue.
