General News
2 September, 2025
Wimmera farmers block TCV workers at Marnoo
A clash between farmers and Transmission Company Victoria workers occurred in Victoria's west, forcing law enforcement to intervene.
Police were called to a farm in Marnoo, about 60km east of Horsham, on Tuesday, September 2, following a confrontation between the two parties.
It comes less than a week after the controversial legislation was passed in parliament, allowing transmission line workers access to privately owned agricultural land without the owner's permission.
Kanya sheep farmer Ben Duxson was among the farmers on site during the confrontation.
"They refused to identify themselves to us," he said.
"But when questioned by the police, they identified themselves as TCV workers.
"They said they were doing site work on the roadside to identify a species of plant."
Mr Dixson said police from Murtoa and St Arnaud attended the scene, and the workers left.
However, TCV workers returned later at about 12.30pm.
Again, landowners met them, and again, police were called.
"This is an $11.7 million project; it's unnecessary and we don't want them here," Mr Duxson said.
"That's what we told them today: we don't want you here."
Mr Duxson has been a strong leader in opposing the VNI-West transmission line crossing agricultural land and said he's committed to continuing to protect his and other land from what he calls a project that is not needed and is on the wrong trajectory.
"I don't know one person whose electricity bill has gone down," he said.
"How long are they going to continue to hold us up with this behaviour?
"It is time for them to go back to the drawing board and start again."
Mr Duxson said the workers explained they were just doing their job, which he acknowledged, but it was time for the government to accept that they had it wrong and to stop wasting everyone's time.
"They were worried the'd get their unmarked vehicles bogged but we offered to pull them out with one of the tractors if that happened," he said.
When Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Premier Jacinta Allen, and Opposition Leader Susan Ley attended the Bush Summit in Ballarat on Friday, August 29, they were met by angry landholders gathered in protest on tractors, utes, fire trucks, and on foot, voicing their disgust at the government's VicGrid legislation.
Fines aimed at landholders of more than $12,000 were reduced in the late Thursday night passing of the Bill, to $8000, but entry to private property by reasonable force with the attendance of Victorian Police, remained.
In addition to the Bill, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has announced that the VNI-West transmission line could blow out from the original projected $3.6 billion to $7.6 billion, with the possibility of reaching $11.4 billion.
Wimmera Mallee News contacted TCV for comment.
More to come.