Farmers fined for blocking VNI West transmission work

Twelve Victorian farmers have been fined $814 each for blocking authorised officers from accessing their land for VNI West transmission line works. The Victorian government issued the infringement notices to the farmers for denying entry to their properties, which is necessary for the project's planning. One sheep stud farmer, Trent Carter from Marnoo, has vowed to contest the fine in court, claiming that what he considers his land is not necessarily his and that the government is overstepping its boundaries.

According to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Change (DEECA), the fines were issued because the farmers prevented officers from entering their land without a reasonable excuse, hindering, obstructing, or delaying the authorised activity. DEECA spokesperson stated that under the Electricity Industry Act 2000, authorised officers can issue an infringement notice when they are satisfied that a person has denied property access without a reasonable excuse.

The transmission company VicGrid, responsible for the project, had tried to keep landowners informed about the planned visits and provided multiple reminders before accessing the properties. Despite these efforts, the farmers have been resisting, with Carter mentioning that the authorities approached during crucial farming seasons, such as lambing, causing significant inconvenience.