LODDON communities have less than a fortnight to give feedback on the first stage of an environmental effects statement for the controversial VNI West renewable energy transmission line.
While communities have been asked for comments on the Department of Transport and Planning’s draft scoping requirements that opened late last week, the closing date is December 18.
Consultation comes as Transmission Company Victoria continues to give little notice of community pop-up sessions in communities along the route between Stawell and Kerang.
A one-hour session in Boort today was announced online by TCV on Tuesday.
The EES is claimed to be Victoria’s most rigorous and transparent environmental assessment. 
“It describes a project, its rationale and potential environmental effects. It enables stakeholders and decision-makers to understand how the project is proposed to be implemented and the likely environmental effects of doing so,” a TCV statement said. 
“The DTP leads the EES process, and they have developed draft scoping requirements outlining the matters for assessment through a public consultation process.”
VNI West project director Tony Hedley said: “This is an important opportunity for community members to provide input on the VNI West EES scope.
“While this is one of two formal opportunities to provide input through the assessment and approvals process,
“TCV will continue to directly engage the community and seek feedback throughout the EES,” he said. According to TCV, community consultation is an important part of the EES and TCV will engage with landowners, local communities and traditional owners as technical studies are carried out over a wide range of topics, including agriculture, bushfire risk, and social and economic impacts.
TCV says it will share information about the EES studies and assessments and provide opportunities for the community to provide feedback.
“DTP will outline the submissions process and answer questions about the draft scoping consultation at a webinar scheduled for Monday.
“Members of the community can provide feedback on the draft scoping requirements through the government website Engage Victoria.
VNI West is a major project to build a new transmission line between Victoria and New South Wales. TCV says it will harness renewable energy in both states and maintain the reliability and security of electricity supply as coalfired power stations retire and energy demand continues to grow. 
“The project must complete the EES process and obtain relevant Victorian and Commonwealth approvals before construction can commence.”
Meanwhile, Mallee MP Anne Webster has taken aim at the Federal Government’s energy plan, saying projects are a major threat to farming in the region.
“Research ... from Frontier Economics has laid waste to Prime Minister Albanese’s claims. 
Labor’s globally unprecedented experimental transition to an exclusively renewable energy mix will cost $520 billion more than they estimated,” accordsing to Dr Webster.