SURVEY crews are back along the route of the controversial VNI West renewable energy transmission line doing ecology and traffic and transport studies on public and private land.
Their focus this week has been ecology surveys in the Gannawarra and Buloke Shires.
It follows fauna spotting work last month   to determine the presence of owl species.
“Ecology surveys are used to identify important environmental values such as wildlife habitats and vegetation,” according to Transmission Company Victoria.
“Surveys may include non-invasive ground investigations such as site walkovers, photography, nocturnal fauna spotting, noise monitoring, ‘call playback,’ camera trap surveys and tile array surveys.
“A broader program of traffic and transport field surveys is also beginning this  week, across Gannawarra, Buloke, Loddon and Northern Grampians Shires.”
TCV said traffic and transport surveys involved observation of vehicle speeds, assessing road conditions, identifying safety hazards and evaluating access points and connectivity to nearby transport networks.
Surveys and field work on public land have been planned in consultation with relevant local authorities where required.
Field work is only being done on private property where owners have signed land access agreements with TCV.