Council opposes VNI West project

Published on 27 May 2025

Gannawarra Shire Council has expressed its opposition to the VNI West electricity transmission project planned to pass through the municipality.

Councillors approved a notice of motion at last week’s Council meeting to oppose the project, which involves constructing a 500 kilovolt double-circuit electricity transmission line and associated infrastructure between Victoria’s Bulgana terminal station and electricity transmission infrastructure in New South Wales. The project also includes construction of a proposed terminal station at Tragowel.

“My fellow Councillors and I agree that the costs associated with VNI West far outweigh the benefits to our communities,” Mayor Garner Smith said.

“The project’s proposed route has divided residents, with the current compensation affected landowners will receive being inadequate.

“This project is only occurring to ensure residents in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne can access electricity when coal-powered infrastructure is shut down in the next 10-15 years. However, there is no proposal for our communities, who are hosting this infrastructure, to be compensated in a meaningful way, such as by receiving reduced electricity costs.”

The adoption of Council’s stance on the project follows on from a notice of motion adopted at the March 2025 Council meeting, which saw Council write to the Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio expressing deep concern regarding the VNI West powerline project, particularly in relation to landholder consultation, consideration, compensation, and community benefit.

“By formally adopting this stance, we are calling on VNI West proponents to come to Council and assist us to work through the issues our residents have with this project,” Mayor Smith said.

“Our new stance on the project also aligns with other councils impacted by VNI West, with the likes of Buloke Shire Council and Northern Grampians Shire Council also expressing their opposition to the project.”