Anger over ‘shortsighted’ electricity towers cutting through farmland
ElectraNet wants to cut through some of SA’s most productive farmland with a high-voltage power line and one region is not happy.
A controversial project from SA’s power transmission operator ElectraNet would cut through SA’s most productive farmland, according to surrounding agricultural communities calling for plans to explore an alternative pathway.
ElectraNet put forward four routes for the potential towers in August and has been meeting with the community about the multibillion-dollar project expected to start by 2027. Community consultation submissions to ElectraNet close this Friday.
The transmission line would be built in two parts, ElectraNet said, a south line connecting Bundey (near Robertstown) to Greater Adelaide and a north line that would run from Bundey to Whyalla.
About 200 locals were at the most recent community-led meeting held over the plan in the Mid-North town of Riverton last week, and 105 attended in Marrabel.
Riverton local and broadacre farmer Andrew Bruce has raised fears that the economic loss for farmers “could be huge” if the plan goes ahead.
He said the farmers – who work with wheat, barley, lentils and canola – would lose land due to tower size, and would have difficulty sowing grain around the towers.
“These areas feed the people, and they’re just taking this land away,” he said.
“Why not go out further east into pastoral country where sheep are not so impacted, grazing can occur around these towers, while we have to control all weeds and everything underneath the towers and that’s an ongoing expense for us.
You might like
“The loss each year could be quite significant. We talk long-term in our industry because we only get one shot at it each year.”
InDaily understands the tower structures would be about 50m to 60metres tall, like ElectraNet’s other South Australian towers, which have a charge of about 230–275 kilovolts.
ElectraNet said it was actively considering alternative routes, which InDaily understands include one East of Eudunda which would impact pastoral land rather than broadacre.
“While no final decisions have been made, exploring community suggestions and ideas are part of our current, ongoing investigations,” ElectraNet said in an email sent to community stakeholders last week.
The project was established as a major network upgrade, which would increase energy security, support economic growth and ensure a reliable, affordable energy supply, the project director Dave Tansell said.
Liberal spokesperson Penny Pratt said “emotions have been running high” and her office had been helping the community organise three forums to discuss concerns, the meetings attracting larger turnouts than ElectraNet’s own consultation.
In a statement, ElectraNet said it hosted 47 engagement events, including information sessions, pop-ups and attendance at local events, such as the Tactics Conference, Gawler Show, Quorn Show and Yorke Peninsula Field Days.
Pratt said ElectraNet declined to attend the three forums held at Riverton, Marrabel and Eudunda.
“ElectraNet have repeatedly missed opportunities to accept friendly invitations to attend community meetings and therefore take the opportunity to dispel any myths, to put forward facts instead of misinformation and to reassure potential hosts of these towers that they are still in early stages of consultation,” she said.
Stay informed, daily
“You can’t crop up to the foot of a tower, you can’t seed, you can’t cultivate, you can’t harvest.
“Every tower footprint is going to nibble away at our productivity, our land, our cropping land and therefore reduce yield.”
She described the proposal as “short-sighted”.
“It’s so short-sighted for any part of arable farmland across this country to be taken up with infrastructure or housing where there are other alternatives,” Pratt said.
ElectraNet said in a statement that: “In recent weeks, we’ve also received several invitations to attend new community-led meetings in various locations.”
“While we’re always keen to speak with those who have an interest in the project, our current engagement schedule is fully committed so unfortunately we’re unable to add further in-person meetings at this time.
“However, we understand the desire for a broader conversation, so we’re exploring the option of a Virtual Community Meeting — one that would allow people from all four corridors to hear from us and ask questions.”
ElectraNet said the virtual meeting would be confirmed after the current consultation ends on October 31 and would discuss next steps.
Regional communities in the Light, Goyder and Clare and Gilbert Valley council areas would urge SA’s power transmission operator ElectraNet to explore a fifth corridor for its Northern Transmission project.
Clare and Gilbert Council CEO David Stobbe said the local Mayor Allan Aughey called a special council meeting on Monday night, where members unanimously supported an investigation into the alternative route, east of the Goyder Line, so the towers would not disrupt farmers.
This, he said, would avoid high-value cropping and tourism areas, impact fewer homes, properties and businesses, and align with the state’s food security and land use planning goals.
The regional council of Goyder would also host a town hall meeting on the topic next week.
ElectraNet was expected to present a draft report on the cost-benefit analysis of the transmission project by December, with more detailed plans expected in 2026.
