Moorabool Council has launched a campaign pushing for the Western Victoria Transmission Network Project to go underground.

‘Green and Unseen‘ details AusNet Services’ proposal to erect pylons up to 80m high over the Moorabool landscape, to carry 500kV powerlines between the region’s windfarms and Melbourne.

“The scale of this project is enormous, and the transmission lines will span the entire length of our Shire,” Mayor David Edwards said.


“We’re proud to produce renewable energy though our windfarms to power more than 300,000 homes, but putting the powerlines overhead is not green and is actually dangerous to Moorabool residents.

“There’s extreme fire risk in many areas along the proposed transmission lines route.

“If a fire was to break out, the transmission lines could inhibit firefighting efforts.

“And if a tower was to fall, people in our towns could be trapped.

“The only sustainable, long-term solution – one that Council and our community are advocating for – is to put these powerlines underground.”

“Truly green would mean unseen.”

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Council has recently made a submission to Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley responding to a referral under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation’s Act.

“We noted in the submission that we don’t object to the importance of the significant renewable energy infrastructure project, but a balance must be sought between providing the energy to Melbourne and impacting on Moorabool’s community and natural assets, as well as the fire risk and farming implications.

“As well as appealing to politicians, we want to appeal to Melbourne people to support us in our Green and Unseen campaign.

“If you care about our primary producers and our environment, please support our campaign to underground these powerlines,” Cr Edwards said.

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The proposed 190km powerline will run from Sydenham to Bulgana near Ararat.

The project would also involve the creation of a new substation north of Ballarat – possibly in the Clarkes Hill area, where the line would be able to intersect with a Ballarat-Bendigo transmission line.

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Gabrielle Hodson
Author: Gabrielle Hodson

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