GLENLOTH East couple Tim McGrath and Claire Grant had just hours’ notice their property was in the VNI West corridor before Transmission Company released the 2km wide path.
Their new home, expected to be finished by Christmas, now sits in the middle of the controversial route.
“We were told on the morning of the corridor release but not what paddocks,” said Claire.
“Our neighbours had their paddocks identified six weeks before. We’re not impressed.
“We need the people making decisions to come back and talk to us.”
Tim is a fifth generation farmer in the district growing cereals and hay at their property straddling Loddon, Buloke and Gannawarra Shires.
They are now seeking advice after Claire was told at last Thursday’s TCV information session that there were limitations on adjusting the refined corridor running between Bulgana, near Stawell, and Kerang.
TCV Victorian project manager Sam Magee did confirm in Boort that the previous $2000 cap for legal fee reimbursement had been removed.
Instead, Mr Magee said landholders would be reimbursed for reasonable legal costs as TCV pushed ahead with plans for the 500kW renewable energy transmission line.
Mr Magee was questioned on landholder, neighbour and community compensation for the project that he said had an “adequate budget” of $1.74 billion despite compensation packages not being finalised.
But Charlton’s Glenda Watts said: “We have been told what we have to do. We don’t have to accept it ... there’s no way compensation can buy mental health”.
Boort Tourism and Development president Sophia Herrington told the meeting that VNI West would impact the town and there had been no discussion on community compensation.
TCV representatives, including Mr Magee said there were no details around community compensation and that would be a matter for the Government.
They said environmental effect studies would assess community impacts.
Leaghur farmer Tyler Nelson said it did not make business sense to have a project budget without building in compensation packages.
“You don’t care about the cost because we are going to pay for it,” he said.
During the two-hour session TCV was accused of using the meeting to put out propaganda and releasing misleading information to landholders in the corridor. Ken Pattison said one pamphlet had a transmission tower only the size of existing structures on the 220kW line between Bendigo and Kerang.
VNI West towers will be up to 72 metres high. Mr Pattison said: “This (document) is a totally misleading piece of information.”
TCV was criticised for its failure to contact the owners of all 540 properties caught in the corridor.
Mr Magee said: “We did try very hard to make contact ... title searches, ASIC ... we couldn’t get to everyone in advance”.
The Boort information session saw TCV representatives outline timelines for the environmental effects study and further refinement of the corridor.
A spokesman said on Tuesday: “Conversations with all landholders in the corridor are ongoing and will continue, as the process to refine the route for transmission continues. 
“VicGrid is developing guidance to set clear expectations for managing impacts on neighbouring landholders that are ‘significantly impacted’ by nearby transmission projects, which the project will comply with.”
They also said consultation with traditional owner groups was now essential to improve TCV’s understanding of the cultural significance of the country within the area of interest and identify specific areas of cultural significance where impacts should be avoided or mitigated. 
“The engagement will also consider how VNI West may be able to provide positive outcomes and opportunities for traditional owner groups.”