GANNAWARRA Shire residents are encouraged to share their interests and concerns with Transmission Company Victoria to help shape the development of workforce accommodation for the VNI West project.
TCV said it recognised many areas in the VNI West project corridor faced housing availability and affordability challenges.
“We’re inviting input on our approach to developing workforce accommodation,” it said in a statement.
VNI West is a major project to build a new transmission line between Victoria and New South Wales.
It will harness renewable energy in both states.
In Victoria, a preferred easement of 70m wide along most of the route has been identified.
The easement runs from Bulgana to near Kerang and then across the border into New South Wales.
“We are committed to understanding how we can progress VNI West in a way that meets local needs and creates long-term, permanent housing solutions for communities impacted by the project,” the statement said.
“The new workforce accommodation portal on the TCV website provides information about VNI West’s workforce accommodation requirements and provides a new channel for community members to share ideas on TCV’s approach to developing accommodation, and longer-term housing solutions.
“The portal is also where owners of land can submit an expression of interest for their properties to be assessed as possible locations for use by the project during construction.”
TCV spokesperson Claire Cass said through the VNI West Social Value Reference Group, it was working directly with local councils and other key stakeholders to identify opportunities to deliver lasting community benefits in areas including training and skills development, energy access and housing solutions.
As early planning for construction begins, TCV must identify potential workforce accommodation and construction laydown sites and assess their suitability through a rigorous impact assessment as part of the Environment Effects Statement process.
In parallel with determining permanent housing solutions, TCV is seeking sites via the expression of interest process that are suitable for temporary workforce accommodation – up to three sites of about 12 hectares each to accommodate up to 200 people each at peak construction; or construction laydown areas – up to eight sites of about five hectares each; or combined accommodation and laydown area sites.
Loddon, Gannawarra, Northern Grampians and Buloke Shire Councils recently met with TCV, providing region-specific insights to the selection criteria for the expression of interest process to support identification of suitable workforce accommodation and construction laydown sites.
Site selection criteria include proximity to the preferred easement, main road connections, opportunities for legacy benefit creation, flood overlay and ecology considerations, topography, bushfire risk, availability of services, cultural heritage matters as well as proximity to towns and existing dwellings.
Each site submission received will be assessed against the criteria and then reviewed alongside other land options available; where a site is ultimately selected for assessment, an initial access payment to the property owner will be made for EES site survey and due diligence purposes.
If a site is deemed suitable for use, it is likely that TCV would seek to enter into a commercial lease agreement with the property owner, for which TCV would pay rent.
Workforce accommodation for VNI West includes the lodgings and infrastructure required to house the project’s employees and contracting staff. Construction laydown areas will store construction materials and equipment, including storage and stockpiling facilities, vehicle and equipment storage, demountable site offices and amenities.
These sites will be required for the duration of construction, plus about six months prior to and after construction.
