Can farming activity occur under transmission lines?

Communities across Victoria work, live and drive alongside powerlines every day. This includes farmers who run grazing and crops (including potatoes) under the 6,500 kms of existing transmission lines delivering power to homes and businesses across the state.

A key component of the Western Victoria Transmission Network Project’s engagement approach involves talking to landholders to ensure they have certainty around ongoing farming activities under the proposed overhead lines.

We‘ve listened to farmers and undertaken research into land uses and machinery height limits under the proposed new renewables transmission link and have confirmed farming will be able to continue under the link.

Vehicles and equipment of up to 5m in height can safely travel and operate under the 500kv transmission lines, and up to 8.6m with a safety assessment. The 500kv design incorporates 15m minimum clearance from the ground to the lowest point of the line, which Energy Safe Victoria confirmed is 6m more than required under the Australian Standards.

In the 220kv section of the transmission line, vehicles and equipment up to 4.6m in height can travel under the lines. The minimum clearance from the ground to the lowest point of the line will be 9.2m.

Where there is a need to operate vehicles and equipment above permitted heights, Ausnet is working with landholders on possible solutions. This might include tower micro-siting, adjusting operations, and equipment replacement, with compensation.

Grazing, cropping and agriculture are permitted within the easement as well as market gardens, orchards, horticultural nurseries (excluding buildings), water storage dams and operation of irrigation equipment (except for rain gun irrigators). Farmers will be able to operate centre-pivot and lateral moving irrigators.

Detailed investigations into the concerns of landholders and the wider community are continuing through the Environment Effects Statement process.

The Western Victoria Transmission Network Project is planning a new 190km transmission line from Bulgana to Sydenham, which will help to reduce the cost of electricity while allowing new renewable energy projects, such as wind and solar, to power Victorian communities.

This critical project will create more than 300 jobs during construction and provide major economic flow-on benefits for businesses across western Victoria.

It’s the first step for the Western Victoria renewable energy zone, which is one of six renewable energy zones being considered in Victoria to help the state achieve its net zero emissions target.

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