AusNet confirms controversial power line route through more than 200 Victorian properties

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Electrical transmission company AusNet Services has announced the proposed route of its controversial power line through western Victoria, devastating some of the farmers impacted.

The 190 kilometre transmission line would stretch from Sydenham in Melbourne’s north west, to Bulgana near Stawell in western Victoria.

AusNet said the high voltage power lines cannot be built underground because that would require significant soil and vegetation removal and would disturb Aboriginal cultural heritage sites.

The company also said burying the transmission line would cost 16 times more than stringing the wires overhead.

But there are three locations along the proposed route where Aboriginal cultural heritage and other significant sites could be affected at Hepburn Lagoon, Darley and Melton Aerodrome.

Ausnet map — AusNet has announced the proposed 190 kilometre transmission line between Sydenham and Bulgana in Victoria.(Supplied; Ausnet )

More than 200 properties affected

AusNet Services said the proposed route would go through 240 private properties.

“Sharing the proposed route now will ensure much-needed clarity for around 220 of the 460 landholders that were within the single corridor,” AusNet Services Western Victoria Transmission Network project director Stephanie McGregor said.

“They now have the confirmation that their property is not on the proposed route.”

The project will now go through an Environmental Effects Statement (EES) process for final consideration by the Victorian Government.

A man standing in front of a house frame — Shaun Cleary says he may not live in his almost built “dream home” if the above ground powerlines are built on his property.(ABC Rural: Jane McNaughton)

Shaun Cleary is building his “dream home” on his fifth generation farm in Smeaton, north of Ballarat, and he said he was questioning if his family will ever live in it due to the proximity to the powerlines.

“The house is due to be finished in January, it’s supposed to be the happiest time of our lives to have a home in the country for our kids.”

“But I don’t know what we’re going to do, I don’t think we’re going to be able to live in this house now.”

Rolling hills and farmland — Mr Cleary said the view from his house will be ruined by the tranmission lines.(ABC Rural: Jane McNaughton)

Mr Cleary said he was uncomfortable bringing his young children up under the powerlines, which could be 85 meters high and up to 500 kilovolts.

“It’s not only our house that is affected, there is at least 50 to 100 that are way to close [to the powerlines].”

“AusNet are well aware that we’re building a house, but it’s really made no difference unfortunately.

Undergrounding unfeasible

Katherine Myers’ family runs an irrigated seed potato farm in neighbouring region Tourello.

“The corridor ducks through the northern tip of our farm, and then it goes smack-bang through the middle of our out paddock,” Ms Myers said.

Three generations of one family, three children, the parents and grandfather stand in a potato crop north of Ballarat. — Katherine Myers said the proposed high voltage transmission line had the potential to reduce their irrigated potato crops by twenty per cent.(ABC Rural: Jane McNaughton)

“There will be one easement through the main property and there will be a wider easement through the out paddock of probably about a kilometre.”

Preliminary findings of AusNet’s investigation into undergrounding the transmission line has found that it would require significant soil and vegetation removal and disturbance of Aboriginal cultural heritage.

The company said going underground would “limit opportunities for future renewable development, not meet the technical availability and reliability requirements of the electricity system, and cost approximately 16 times more”.

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