Tuesday, 15 October 2024

Western Victoria Region

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (13:05): (1143) My question for the Minister for Planning concerns setback distances for wind turbines and high voltage transmission lines – both now dominate the lives of many of my constituents. Too often the impact on their mental and physical health and their finances is catastrophic. Last week I visited Greg and Sheona in Gordon at the stunning dream home they have built in beautiful country, carefully equipped to support them in their well-earned retirement. AusNet now plan to build 85-metre, 500-kilovolt towers right up their drive, barely 100 metres from their front door. The impact on the livability and the fire safety of their home will be disastrous. Other constituents neighbour wind turbines. I welcome the coalition’s new promise to reinstate 2-kilometre setbacks for turbines, a protection Labor halved in 2015, and I ask the minister: will you match this commitment, and when will you apply mandatory statewide setbacks for transmission line infrastructure?