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Western Victorian farmers along the proposed route of a major overhead transmission line have vowed to protest against the project and prevent access to their land.
The map for Transmission Company Victoria's (TCV) VNI West project shows a preferred easement of 70 metres along most of the route, which would host 80m-high transmission towers.
The project would host powerlines to connect planned renewable energy projects as part of the government's vision for the National Energy Network, and is subject to an Environment Effects Statement.
The more defined route runs outside of St Arnaud, west of Charlton, then swings past Kerang and over to Murrabit on the New South Wales border.
The route of VNI West, stretching from Stawell and winding its way around Charlton and Kerang, up to New South Wales. (Supplied: Transmission Company Victoria)
Ben Duxson, who farms at Wallaloo East in the northern Grampians, said he would have powerlines through about 1.5 kilometres of "some of his best lambing country" and within 700m of his buildings.
He told ABC Ballarat that people affected had known for about 10 days.
"This project's no good for Australia," he said.
"It's a joke of a project, the energy policy here, trying to go with all renewables … increasing our energy costs, decreasing our reliability, but also the food security and affordability.
"We never get this land back. Once they start doing this, we never get it back the way it was."
Mr Duxson said the energy company would "need to take us to the Supreme Court".
"If we lose that, we'll fight it at the gate," he said.
"They can come and try and take our land, but we've got enough people up and down the line."
Landholder consultation assisted new design
In a statement, TCV said the more defined route for the transmission lines was chosen after 18 months of consultation with communities and almost 500 landholders, along with field studies, technical and engineering assessments.
"The release of the preferred easement provides more certainty for many people, and means we can work directly with landholders in the easement to gain a comprehensive understanding of their land, farming operations and businesses," VNI West Program Director Tony Hedley said.
"These conversations are important to help design the project while minimising impact to each property, and to ensure all landholders receive fair and reasonable compensation."
Residents continue to fight
Barry Batters farms north of St Arnaud in Sutherland, where there are four towers proposed for his property.
"A map of our property shows we have four towers marked, and a property we lease will have six towers, so we'll have to contend with 10 towers," he told the ABC Victorian Country Hour.
"We're not happy at all."
"We've tried in good faith over the past 18 months to try and talk to Transmission Company Victoria, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), VicGrid ... trying to work through the issues, but to this day they still haven't answered one question we've asked them."
Mr Batters said the consultation process had been frustrating for landholders, and believed the project should be stopped.
St Arnuad residents attend a meeting at the local hall to learn about the VNI West project in 2023. (Supplied: Victoria Farmers Federation)
Several other energy infrastructure projects in the region, such as the Western Renewables Link, which is planned to connect to the VNI West, have already been stalled due to community opposition.
It has prompted the Victorian government to allow energy projects to be "accelerated" through planning.
"I've been farming here for over 50 years and I've never seen the community torn apart so much," Mr Batters said.
"They've treated farmers with contempt — 99 per cent of people are dead against the project.
"It's gonna be a big fight, it's not going to be easy."
Catherine Shepherd has a hay and beef farm and runs a tourist business and farm stay at Tragowel, which she said would host 3km of transmission lines if the VNI West proposal went ahead.
"The farmstay accommodation will look directly towards the 285m [high] transmission towers," she said.
"It will go through the best-producing part of our farm.
"When these towers are built, they will need to build access roads and we will not be able to irrigate for at least 12 months."
Chris Bowen says renewables are good for the regions. (ABC News: Ed Reading, file)
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy of Australia Chris Bowen said projects to enhance renewables required a small amount of land usage.
"Less than one per cent of Australia's land is needed for renewable energy, and that's consistent with the rest of the world," he said.
"We have some of the best renewable resources in the world. They create jobs, they create cheaper energy. It's good for the regions.
"I want to make sure it's good for the regions going forward."
TCV said it would hold further consultation in Charlton, Stawell and Kerang next month.
AEMO has been contacted for comment.