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Loddon HERALD Vol 3 No 33, THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 ISSN 2653-1550
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AUSTRALIAN Energy Market Operator is under renewed pressure to disclose details of its controversial VNI West project.
Loddon communities are still waiting for detail of the transmission line path that will run between Stawell and Kerang. AEMO has also refused to reveal the membership of its community reference group or confirm where scheduled October consultation sessions will be held. Wedderburn’s Alex Holt: “Nothing has changed by AEMO in its method or style of consultation
AEMO Information, detail still in short supply: critic
and information. Local communities in the VNI West path are being treated the same as those in Western Renewables Link over the past few years - they are telling us nothing.” Loddon Shire Mayor Dan Straub said he had fielded requests from residents looking for information after AEMO last week started contacting landholders on its refined path. “These people are telling me they are concerned that
AEMO says “initial calls are progressing well” but not how many landowners had been contacted. The reference group was to have had its first meeting early this month but AEMO now says it will be in mid-September. A spokesperson said AEMO’s VNI West entity Transmission Company Victoria said it was in “the process of contacting the individuals who put their names forward to participate in the group Once we finalise the group and receive permission to share personal information publicly, we will share details of the membership. The first items on the agenda for discussion by the
AEMO is not giving the detail that allows for informed discussion and proper consultation in our communities,” he said. “They are entitled to be asking questions and I would trust that answers are forthcoming in a more timely fashion. They want to know who are the members of the community reference group, the people who have put up their hands and have been appointed as a voice for local communities.”
Paula Yorston, Debbie Youngson and director of clinical and community services April McKenzie led Inglewood and Districts Health Service staff in celebrating news last week that the hospital has been given quality care accreditation for another three years by the Australian Commis-
group will be to discuss details of how the group will run and the terms of reference.” AEMO says applications for membership remain open. No detail has been given on how many applications have been received. The spokesperson said details on October’s consultations “will be provided closer to the date”. Cr Straub said there was concern that AEMO would release new details of the route and future consultation during harvest. “We don’t want key details being dropped in November or December and distract farmers,” Cr Straub said.
sion on Safety and Quality in Health Care. CEO Dallas Coghill said extension of accreditation, first granted in 2016, reflected on the professionalism of all staff and would continue to give confidence for patients and clients of the service.
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