Lead
A Victorian farmer has barricaded his property against surveyors for a major transmission line project, saying he feels "disrespected" by the state authority's heavy-handed tactics. Nathan McKnight, a sheep farmer from Murrabit in northern Victoria, is among a growing group of landholders refusing to grant access to VicGrid, the body overseeing the VNI West transmission line. VicGrid has threatened fines and court-entry orders against those who block access, escalating tensions in a dispute that has divided farming communities.
Coverage Comparison
The ABC's reporting highlights both the confrontations and the divisions within farming communities. Across multiple articles, the public broadcaster has chronicled the conflict from the perspective of farmers like McKnight, who spoke of being "kicked in the guts" by officials wearing body-worn cameras and citing legal breaches, and from supporters like Craig McIntosh, who has welcomed the project onto his property. The coverage also includes the resistance movement led by Ben Duxson, who faced enforcement threats after a protest at his farm gate. While the tone of individual articles varies from critical to neutral, the overall reporting emphasizes the strain on rural communities as renewable energy infrastructure expands.
Key Claims
Farmers Split Over VNI West Project
The VNI West project, a proposed 500-kilovolt transmission line connecting the high-voltage electricity grids of New South Wales and Victoria, has sharply divided opinions among farmers along its route. Nathan McKnight, who runs sheep on a 1,214-hectare property at Murrabit, says the powerlines are proposed to cut diagonally through 250 hectares of his land. He has locked his gates and told authorised officers they will not be allowed in, according to ABC reporting. "It's why we've got to this stage that we're locking the gates and under no circumstances are you going to come in," he said.
In contrast, Craig McIntosh, a farmer at Tragowel who owns 4,000 hectares, has been a vocal supporter and has offered his property for the transmission lines. "Others didn't want it, so me and a couple of other neighbours got together and said, 'Why not bring it through our farms?'" he told the ABC. McIntosh will receive over $2 million in state government compensation for hosting the infrastructure.
VicGrid's Enforcement Measures
VicGrid has issued notices of proposed entry to 26 properties where voluntary access for ecology surveys has not been agreed. The authority has threatened fines and court-entry orders against landholders who block access. In McKnight's case, he was told he faces an $800 fine for refusing access. VicGrid officers have been filmed wearing body-worn cameras during interactions with farmers, and project manager Matt Vallis sent a text message to farmer Ben Duxson warning that "hindrance, obstruction or delaying of the access as notified is an offence and may result in enforcement action being taken against you."
Despite the standoffs, VicGrid reports that survey access has been provided for approximately 40 per cent of the preferred easement, with owners of about 170 properties across the broader project area agreeing to have surveyors on their land.
Resistance Movement Grows
The resistance movement has gained momentum, with the group Farmers Fight Back claiming to have added 5,000 new members in the past week. Ben Duxson, a sixth-generation farmer near Marnoo, has become a leading voice in the opposition. The proposed line would pass within 150 metres of his sheep and cropping operation. On Monday, he and 80 supporters gathered behind his farm gate, waiting for VicGrid officers to attempt access. When the surveyors saw the crowd, they sat in their car for a few minutes, then drove off, Duxson said.
VicGrid CEO Alistair Parker defended the officers' decision, telling ABC Wimmera that an authorised officer made the judgment to ensure the protest remained peaceful. "They're obviously highly trained to follow the letter and the spirit of the law as they carry out this important work," he said.
Perspectives
Farmers Opposed to the Project
Many farmers express deep frustration with what they describe as a lack of consultation and a disregard for their livelihoods. Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking, whose property lies within the proposed easement, called the experience "horrific." "The almost removal of my rights to even have any input over what's going to be placed on my land without consent," he said. "The stress it's placed on me with VNI West coming through and the poor engagement … in fact, the lack of engagement … from VicGrid," he added.
Nathan McKnight echoed this sentiment, saying there had been no consultation, just notifications. "They haven't taken into account the irrigated farming that we're doing and producing food and fibre for the country," he said.
Farmers Supporting the Project
Craig McIntosh argues that the transmission line is necessary to modernise the grid and bring renewable energy to the region. Having farmed around an existing transmission line for 60 years, he notes that farming can continue beneath the towers. "And you can farm under it — I've never known anyone to crash into [a tower] or stop farming around them," he said. He believes the project will benefit future generations, saying, "If we don't do something it could be another 60 years and we [will say] we should have built it 60 years ago."
VicGrid's Standpoint
VicGrid maintains that it is following legal procedures to ensure the project proceeds, emphasising that its officers are "highly trained to follow the letter and the spirit of the law." The authority has stressed that voluntary access is preferred, as evidenced by the 170 landholders who have agreed to surveys, but it is prepared to use enforcement powers where necessary to avoid delays.
Background and Context
The VNI West project is part of Victoria's broader push to expand renewable energy infrastructure, connecting renewable energy zones in Victoria and New South Wales. The 500-kilovolt line is designed to strengthen the electricity grid and facilitate the transition away from fossil fuels. However, the project has become a flashpoint for concerns about land rights, compensation, and the pace of Australia's energy transition.
As of the latest reporting, the standoff continues, with McKnight vowing to keep his gates locked. "To be honest, it's a kick in the guts. We're not respected for what we're doing," he said. "You just feel like we work our guts out. We've produced food for the country, and you get people like that after they've just been told why we don't want them on the farm, treat you like that … I think that says it all."
VicGrid has not yet commented on McKnight's specific case, but the authority's general position remains that it will exercise its legal rights to access land for surveys as needed, while seeking to avoid conflict where possible.