The VNI West and Western Renewables Link will be paused, while a full review of the Victorian Transmission Plan is undertaken, and alternative options, such as the Victorian Energy Policy Centre’s “Plan B” option, are properly considered.
Ms Lovell said the review would also consider Renewable Energy Zones, including the proposed Central North REZ, encompassing Dookie,
“This REZ is strongly opposed by the local community in Dookie and other farming areas,” Ms Lovell said.
Concurrent with the review, the Liberals will establish new Urban Solar Parks to encourage solar and battery installations on commercial and industrial rooftops in urban areas, to generate renewable power closer to where it is needed.
Ms Lovell said energy experts said this could supply as much as 25 per cent of demand and reduce the need for as many transmission lines criss-crossing our productive farmland.
The Policy Institute of Australia estimates that VNI West and other proposed transmission lines could add $600 per year to Victorian’s power bills.
VNI West was originally supposed to cost $2 billion, but has grown to at least $7.6 billion and could blow out as high as $11 billion or more.
Ms Lovell said the VNI West project had no social licence and Labor had increasingly turned to harsh legislative changes, such as fines for farmers refusing access to their own land, and compulsory acquisition of easements, even before planning and environment studies have been undertaken.
“Areas like Dookie have some of the most productive farming in Victoria, and the Liberals will protect our state’s farmland by pausing major transmission projects and reviewing the renewable energy zones that currently cover large parts of Victoria’s farmland,” she said.
VFF acting president Peter Star said the reckless VNI West and WRL transmission lines were failed projects that threaten to tear generational farming families apart and destroy the best farmland in the country.
“This pause is a well-overdue acknowledgement that these projects are deeply flawed, but a pause alone is not enough,” Mr Star said.
“They should be scrapped entirely and we will keep fighting until that happens.”
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