Council
18 September, 2024
McArthur welcomes transmission line inquiry
WESTERN Victoria MP Bev McArthur has welcomed last week’s announcement a Parliamentary Inquiry will be conducted into the expansion of transmission lines across Victoria.
She said the Legislative Council’s Environment and Infrastructure Committee accepted her proposal for an investigation into the expansion of Victoria’s high-voltage grid, as proposed by AEMO, VicGrid and Transmission Company Victoria.
“I am delighted that the Committee has finally agreed to consider this incredibly important matter, but deeply frustrated that it has taken so long to get here,” Mrs McArthur said.
“This is something I have advocated for years, and it is no less than the communities of regional Victoria deserve.
“I sincerely hope the committee can conduct its important work quickly enough to prevent the lives of more regional Victorians being blighted by inappropriately designed and insensitively implemented transmission network projects.”
She said as well as taking note of national and international expertise and best practice, the Committee inquiry will invite ordinary Victorians to detail their experiences in this area.
“I hope it will give the opportunity for people who have so far been ignored by politicians to put their point across, and help formulate a committee report and recommendations which can make things better in future,” Mrs McArthur said.
“For too long politicians have been far too keen to spruik their green credentials by advocating clean, green, renewable technology – yet they have failed to mention the ugly, expensive and damaging transmission infrastructure that new energy requires.
“This is not some small, incremental growth: AEMO’s 2024 Draft Integrated System Plan (ISP) predicts that around 10,000km of new transmission lines will be required by 2050.”
According to Mrs McArthur, substantial new power infrastructure has not been built in the state since the 1970s.
She said the regulations were not fit for purpose.
“And the government has deliberately failed to explain the scale of what is to come,” Mrs McArthur said.
“We need to understand the energy transmission system we need for the next hundred years, not just for the next election.
“There’s no point transitioning to shiny-clean renewables if the transmission infrastructure then required is massive, ugly, outdated and environmentally degrading.
“Generation and transmission are part of one system, and they must be considered together. Undergrounding may be more expensive, but if cost is the sole driver of our decision, then we might as well keep burning coal.”
Mrs McArthur said it was “completely unfair” rural Victoria should have to bear the whole burden of the renewables transition.
“Energy users in Melbourne get guilt-free power, while homes, businesses and the environment across the regions are blighted by monster transmission towers,” she said.
“Worse still, in recent months, this Labor Government has denied regional communities the right to proper consultation, due process and the right to appeal.
“The Labor Government’s failure to plan and construct a transmission network in time to match its renewables boasts is shameful.
“They are now blackmailing regional Victoria, claiming there is no alternative, and threatening us with blackouts to steamroll through a hastily designed and inadequately consulted transmission network solution.”
A Victorian Government spokesperson hit out at Mrs McArthur’s claims.
“Connecting new renewable generation into the national energy grid is necessary to keep the lights on and deliver affordable energy to all Victorians, while also generating over $7 billion in investment in regional Victoria including direct benefits to local communities,” the spokesperson said.
“We established VicGrid to coordinate renewable energy planning, ensuring we build the right infrastructure in the right place, include local communities early in the planning process, and protect our energy, food and water security.
“We’re also creating for communities that host Renewable Energy Zones so they can share in the benefits.
“The opposition have no plan to secure our state’s energy future and keep the lights on – instead they want to put toxic, risky and expensive nuclear reactors into regional Victoria.”
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