The Western Victoria Transmission Network Project, which aims to build 190 kilometres of high voltage transmission lines from near Ararat to the edge of Melbourne, has been met with furious community opposition along its entire length.

On Wednesday morning, a narrowed corridor of interest was publicly released, with local and metropolitan media breaking the news before landholders were fully informed.

SEE THE FULL MAP AND READ AN INTERVIEW WITH PROJECT DIRECTOR STEPHANIE MCGREGOR HERE

The narrowed corridor is not the final alignment for the transmission line route - instead, it will inform further investigations for the Environmental Effects Statement process.

Reacting to the news, chair of the Ballarat Potato Growers Association Chris Stephens said the narrowed corridor was another attempt to "divide and conquer" the community.

"If we lose this fight and powerlines go through here, it'll be the death of the industry and our livelihoods," he said.

"This area produces approximately 110,000 tonne of commercial potatoes a year, and another 15,000 tonne of certified seed potatoes in the Ballarat district with a farmgate value of approximately $50 million.

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"If you put that down the supply chain, the Ballarat district grows approximately 350 million serves of fries, with an over the counter value of $1.32 billion annually.

"It will turn what is the most highly productive land in Australia into grazing and cropping land if we can't irrigate."

Last week AusNet, the project proponent, released guidelines for farmers which included detail on types of irrigation machinery that can be used underneath the powerlines and on easements.

For the 500kv section, from a proposed terminal east of Ballarat, that means machinery like lateral moving irrigators can be up to 8.6m high subject to a safety assessment, while under the 220kv, which run from Bulgana to north of Ballarat, the height limit is only 4.6m.

Mr Stephens said many farmers used pivoting lateral irrigators, which are about 7m tall.

"The other big effect is there'll be no aerial spraying at all - I'd say 90 per cent of the district use aerial spraying for their potatoes, it's the only viable way to do it for a lot of people," he added.

"If they are put out of business, that pretty much prevents us from using the best crop protectants possible."

The region's potatoes are grown from valuable volcanic soil that has taken generations to perfect - Mr Stephens' father Kevin said the family had been in the region since the late 1800s.

Dean farmer Danny Maher said the potatoes supplied to companies like McCain, which has a large processing plant in Ballarat, were "clean and green".

"We're all for renewable energy but you can't go cutting a large amount of production from this area, because it will affect people's food," he said.

"It's having a much bigger effect than what AusNet or anyone else is trying to say, the effects are more than 100 times what they're talking about - it's not just an easement and a few power poles, it's a massive effect for this whole area."

To the west, Tourello potato grower Ben Myers said he was disappointed and angry at the latest update - the proposed corridor runs just to the north of his property, cutting across part of his land.

"It's not our worst-case scenario, but it will impact what we do - it will traverse one of our properties right through the middle, so that will have an effect long term," he said.

"There's a lot of anger, that's created by the uncertainty, you've got a company basically telling you that we can come onto your property and do what we want to do, and there's nothing you can do about it.

"There are people who have made big investments on their farm, multi-generational investments."

Myrniong farmer Nathan Lidgett said there were few surprises at the announcement in his area - many suspected a northern route east of Ballarat would be chosen for further investigation.

It was the way the community learned about it that was more frustrating, he said.

"The manner in which AusNet has handled this process is appalling from start to finish," he said.

"They're telling our community consultation groups that they'd let affected landholders know first, but then you're reading in The Courier or hearing it on the radio - this is people's livelihoods, their investments at risk, and they're treating you as a third-class citizen.

"It hasn't got social licence."

Opposition to the project has been thoroughly organised across the entire initial area of interest.

In a media release, community campaign group Stop AusNet's Towers chair Emma Muir said the company was "continuing to steamroll ahead", and was unwilling "to take thousands of voices opposed to the project seriously".

"This is not what renewable energy should look like," she said in a statement.

"We are taking legal action to fight AusNet and AEMO (the Australian Energy Market Operator, which commissioned the project).

FROM 2020: 'We want to protect our soil': Councils demand answers from massive powerline project

"This project must be reassessed and put underground.

"We urge all Victorians to get involved because the issue of overhead transmission lines will affect each and every one of us, as we head into this renewable energy transition."

Councils have been scathing in their responses as well - while they are members of the project's technical reference group, they said they were surprised by the announcement.

Hepburn Shire Council mayor Lesley Hewitt said council had no notice about the narrowed corridor, and was extremely disappointed in the lack of genuine consultation throughout this project.

"We understand the concerns of the community and appreciate the impact that these potential transmission lines will have on their properties and also their livelihoods. We are furious that these impacts on our community have not been adequately considered," she said in a statement.

"We have been advocating strongly on behalf of the community and are extremely disappointed that this appears to have had little impact. At (Tuesday)'s meeting, we committed $50,000 in the 2021-22 Budget to fund a formal submission on the EES and continued advocacy on behalf of affected communities."

"While council is supportive of renewable energy, it is strongly opposed to the transmission lines being above ground and the potential location of the transmission station, which will impact on valuable agricultural land and significant landscapes."

Moorabool Shire Council, which last month commissioned its own independent report into an alternative underground high-voltage DC transmission line, noted the preferred corridor "essentially impact(s) the same landowners who were the first to receive letters for site investigations in early 2020".

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Mayor Tom Sullivan said the project will have "significant" long-term effects for landholders, but undergrounding - which the Moorabool report found was viable and could be cheaper than anticipated - was a better option.

"We think (undergrounding) should be genuinely looked at seriously - it's such a major piece of infrastructure, I think it's important we use 21st century tech," he said.

"Council will be advocating strongly on behalf of the community, that's been our position and will continue to be our position.

"The reports on the undergrounding are saying there are other options, let's just not look at one option only."

He added he was particularly concerned for farmers and primary producers.

"There's a short term (effect), and a long term, which is how it affects industries that rely on raw product," he said.

"It's like a supply chain issue, it really puts in question long term how those other industries will continue - will they continue? Will they reinvest?

"Quite clearly we need to get a full understanding of what the ramifications are."

A McCain Foods spokesperson reiterated the company's commitment to the region.

"Our concern throughout this process remains with our growers and the potential loss of prime agricultural land. We have continued to support them, as our trusted partners over generations. McCain Foods has undertaken a range of activity to ensure the best interests of our growers - including communication with AusNet on our concerns," they said in a statement.

"While the recent announcement provides a degree of certainty to our growers that may be impacted, such as commitments allowing the operation of centre pivot and lateral irrigators within permitted heights under the proposed transmission lines, there is still a long way to go in the process. We hope that the current EES process takes into account all the unresolved issues and AusNet continue to work with our growers for a resolution.

"We remain committed to McCain Foods' future in Ballarat for the long term and supplying delicious food to Australians."

The Victorian Farmers Federation's preference is for the lines to go underground or to follow existing easements, according to president Emma Germano.

"In consultation with our members, VFF have provided advice to Ausnet on how they can minimise impacts on agriculture," she said in a statement.

"This includes appropriate height limits that allow potato or grain farmers to operate their machinery without any need for permits.

We are also calling for fairer compensation for landholders hosting transmission infrastructure.

"Landholders should be entitled to yearly compensation for lost production, including a 20 per cent solatium (distress) payment

"We are at the start of a very long process and we will continue to support our members and the farming community.

"VFF will engage in the EES process to ensure agricultural impacts are appropriately considered and understood."

AusNet has repeatedly reiterated full and partial undergrounding of the line will be investigated as part of the EES, which is expected to be complete in the next six to seven months.

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More recently, it was flagged the 220kv section, from Bulgana to the proposed terminal station north of Ballarat, could potentially be changed to 500kv, according to a new Renewable Energy Zone plan being considered by the state government.

This would mean the terminal station "may not be required", according to an AusNet information sheet.

AusNet has committed to holding more community consultation, including drop-in information sessions, and has encouraged anyone with concerns to get in touch.

Mr Stephens said he wanted project director Stephanie McGregor to appear in person.

"They need to come out and see the damage they'll cause, and talk to people," he said.

"Don't send consultants, get the bosses out here so they front up to community meetings and listen to the concerns themselves."

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