Agricultural Impact
Destroying Australia’s Food Bowl
Victoria’s fertile farmland is not just valuable—it is irreplaceable. The WRL project threatens prime agricultural land, jeopardising food production and the livelihoods of farming families. Transmission towers will permanently remove viable land from use, disrupt farming operations, and impose severe restrictions on landowners. Once this land is lost, it is lost forever.
The Future of Agriculture is at Stake
The WRL’s impact on food security, biodiversity, and sustainable farming is undeniable. With better alternatives available—such as underground transmission—it is unacceptable to sacrifice Victoria’s agricultural future for outdated infrastructure.
Sterilisation of Rich Farming and Bushland
Victoria’s farming land and bushland are critical to both agriculture and biodiversity. The proposed transmission towers will devastate indigenous flora and fauna, including protected and endangered species such as kangaroos, wedge-tailed eagles, black cockatoos, kookaburras, echidnas, falcons, and sulphur-crested cockatoos.
Farmers take great pride in maintaining their land in harmony with nature, implementing biodiversity-friendly practices such as planting native trees and undertaking land care measures. These efforts sequester carbon and contribute to a healthier environment. However, the WRL project will destroy vast areas of vegetation, accelerating carbon emissions rather than reducing them—directly contradicting Victoria’s environmental goals.
Low-Frequency (ELF) Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs): A Hidden Threat
It is well-documented that overhead high-voltage power lines emit Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs), which can severely impact the immune systems, hormones, behavior, and fertility of birds, animals, and bees.
EMFs also have proven negative effects on farm productivity, with recorded cases of increased livestock mortality, disease, and reduced yields. Farmers worldwide have been awarded compensation for the damage caused by transmission lines—such as in France (2008), where livestock suffered serious health impacts due to EMF exposure.