A TRACTOR parade through the centre of Miners Rest on Sunday afternoon was as much a show of solidarity as it was a statement against the controversial Western Victoria Transmission Network Project.
About 100 people gathered for the peaceful rally in the park not far from where energy delivery service AusNet conducted one-on-one consultations with residents from the district.
Event organiser Cate Lancashire said the event was an important chance to gather and regroup before Christmas in what was also the first major meeting since COVID restrictions lifted.
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it can be quite confronting talking with people when you hear them say they feel like they've done everything and don't know what else to do.
- Cate Lancashire, tractor parade organiser
"Because of COVID lockdowns people have been feeling really isolated, so it's great for the community to come together and reignite the fact we are all in this and can fight hard together," Ms Lancashire said.
"...For everyone along the length of the line, for farmers and other people who work on the land, there has been stress, anxiety and loss of sleep that has impacted families and their work with tiredness and fatigue.
"There are ripple effects from the project and it can be quite confronting talking with people when you hear them say they feel like they've done everything and don't know what else to do."
The final route for the controversial Western Victoria Transmission Network Project was decided last month.About 240 landowners will be directly impacted.
The route will attempt to follow existing easements and "at a maximum distance from houses as much as possible" for 190 kilometres of high-voltage overhead powerlines, according to Ausnet last month.
Ausnet has confirmed moving the high voltage transmission lines underground would be 16 times more expensive than overhead wires in the plan.
This remains a sticking point for many taking part in the parade in Miners Rest.
Ms Lancashire said it was important Ausnet realised communities were unhappy and were not going to take the project plans quietly leading into New Year.
Farmers and their supporters remain determined to drive their tractors to prominent locations, such as Spring Street in Melbourne, to capture attention and remind people the impact the towers would have on their food sources.
Ms Lancashire said while there were direct impacts on communities such as Miners Rest, regions across the state needed to realise the ripple effects the transmission project would have on agriculture in western Victoria
"We need (the project) to be designed with future generations in mind and with integrity in our food bowl," Ms Lancashire said.
Ausnet has begun direct consultations with landowners in Waubra, Miners Rest, Darley, Melton, and Ballarat.
