General News
17 September, 2025
Survey crews escorted by police amid VNI West tensions
Transmission Company Victoria has supported its crews, who were confronted by farmers in Western Victoria last week while conducting roadside surveys near Marnoo.
"Ecology specialists conducting surveys to support environmental assessments on public roadside reserves in the Marnoo area were approached by community members opposing VNI West," a TCV spokesperson said.
"For the safety of staff and community members on the roadside, crews required Victoria Police to attend to de-escalate, escorting crews undertaking non-invasive surveys to their next public site."
VNI West Program Director, Mick Douge, said, "We're grateful for opportunities to discuss VNI West with the community, but the roadside isn't the right place for that conversation."
As much as TCV encourages conversation about land access and property rights, they are on an opposing trajectory to many of the landowners who say they are not interested in discussion because the simple fact is they don't want the transmission line to cross farmland.
"The safety of survey crews and community members is not negotiable; our teams are gathering the information needed to ensure VNI West is designed responsibly, carefully considering the region it's proposed to operate in," Mr Douge said.
"We had the opportunity to hear from communities over the last couple of weeks at community information sessions in Kerang, Murrabit, Tragowel, Charlton and Stawell, a more appropriate space for interested landholders and community members to learn more about the Environmental Effects Statement (EES) and our program of specialist studies.
"While we respect the rights of some community members who choose to oppose the project, these protest activities must be safe and respectful, and should never put others in harm's way."
Mr Douge said that designing the VNI required learning about the region, and to date, the teams had investigated heritage values, recorded geotechnical and noise data, and undertaken surveys for cultural heritage, land use and planning, traffic, and visual amenity.
Before fieldwork is carried out on public land, consultation takes place with relevant agencies or authorities, such as councils, Victoria Police, and VicTrack, said a spokesperson for TCV.
They also said that the surveys were advertised each month on TVC's website by local government areas.
While this week's confrontations took place on public land/ roadsides, the recent changes to legislation on property rights will give energy company workers the right to enter private land using reasonable force when blocked by owners or faced with locked gates.
Victorian Police may accompany them.
The TCV spokesperson stated that the company adhered to strict protocols for land access.
"Crews only enter properties with a voluntary agreement or formal statutory notice in place, with a strong preference for a voluntary access agreement with landholders," they said.
TCV claims landholders set the terms for land access to their properties and "Agreeing on access unlocks payments of up to $50,000, scaled to the access area provided, and confirms eligibility to receive part of the Landholder Benefit Payment, up front.
