Environmental Impact

The True Cost of ‘Green’ Energy

Renewable energy must be truly sustainable—not just in generation but also in transmission. Overhead power lines require massive land clearing, fragmenting ecosystems and increasing environmental degradation. The loss of trees, soil disturbance, and destruction of native vegetation contradict the very principles of clean energy. A genuinely sustainable solution would prioritise underground cabling or alternative transmission methods that minimise environmental harm.

Social Impact

Natural Assets

The region contains a number of environmental and natural assets of regional, state and national significance including: Brisbane Ranges National Park, Wombat State Forrest, Werribee Gorge State Park, Long Forest Nature Conservation Reserve, Lerderderg State Park, “Triassic Park” (The Council Trench Darley), etc., as identified in the South West Landscapes Assessment Study – Planisphere, 2012.

These areas are recognised for their natural beauty and attract more than 500,000 visitors to the region annually.   As these natural assets are close to, and north of, the Western Freeway (between Bacchus Marsh and Ballarat), it is suggested that utilising underground cables be utilised if traversing this area.  Alternatively, a southern route (south of Werribee Gorge)

Landscapes and Rural Setting

Landscapes and Rural Setting

Residents, businesses, and visitors of the region, do so because they want to be in close proximity to Melbourne while still enjoying a lifestyle surrounded by a semi-rural atmosphere and its associated natural landscapes.

This has been recognised with the region, from Bacchus Marsh westward along the Western Freeway, being classified as a major growth corridor for western Victoria.  We all enjoy the smaller towns with their country charms in beautiful landscape settings and we need to protect these from the massive environmental impacts of 80m transmission towers with high voltage power lines.

Aesthetics

The negative visual impact of high voltage power lines has been well documented.  Although most electricity transmission companies downplay this fact, they are aware of the growing concerns communities have with impacts on their surrounding environments.

People do not like the visual impact of power lines generally, and these high voltage towers, at 85m tall with many strands of heavy transmission lines, are significantly more of an eyesore than the lower voltage structures. These 85m towers cannot blend into the background. This means that high voltage transmission lines and towers will impact more significantly and on a greater number of people.

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