Farmers reject VicGrid's $2.77m estimate for transmission line impact
VicGrid estimates construction will cost farmers $2.77 million and remove 52 hectares from production over 3.5 years.
A new transmission line will disrupt farmland across four Victorian shires. The VNI West project runs 240 kilometres from Bulgana to north of Kerang.
VicGrid estimates it will cost $2.77 million in agricultural losses over 3.5 years. The agency says this is minor, about 0.3 per cent of the region's $1.1 billion in annual agricultural value.
It will remove 52 hectares from production permanently. Affected farmers strongly disagree with the estimate.
They say it ignores disruption to farm management, efficiency and timing. One farmer faces 3.2 kilometres of line cutting through his main cropping paddock.
Both the Coalition and One Nation have promised to cancel the project if they win the November election.
- 240 kilometres
- Line length
- $2.77 million over 3.5 years
- Estimated agricultural losses
- 52 hectares
- Farmland permanently removed
- 209
- Affected farming properties
Why it mattersAgricultural communities face years of disruption and financial loss; the project's future depends on November's state election result.
AustraliaVictorian farmers in Gannawarra, Loddon, Buloke and Northern Grampians face land loss and income disruption; project could be cancelled after November election.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 1 h ago
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