A community group is taking its fight against major transmission line projects in Victoria's west to the Supreme Court by challenging the state's energy and resources minister.
The Moorabool and Central Highlands Power Alliance (MCHPA) said an order made by Minister Lily D'Ambrosio in February, which fast-tracked the Western Renewables Link (WRL) and Victoria to New South Wales Interconnector West (VNI West) projects, was not valid.
The minister's order allowed early works to start on VNI West and move forward with current plans for the WRL without redoing a cost benefit analysis, known as a Regulatory Investment Test of Transmission (RIT-T).
This is despite community members calling for an investigation of other project options they believe will be cheaper and better overall.
Ms D'Ambrosio's order stated the projects needed to be accelerated to meet "crucial national electricity system needs as coal retires".
Barrister for MCHPA Nick Wood told the court during its first hearing in Melbourne today that the case against the minister was urgent.
"The order, if valid, purports to disapply … obligations that would otherwise subsist under Victorian law," he said.
Judicial registrar Martin Keith said the matter was of significant public interest to be heard without delay and a two-day trial could be listed in the latter half of the year.
Residents escalate fight
National energy laws say a RIT-T should be undertaken again if there are changes in circumstances that may impact the cost of a project.
The court challenge, which is being funded by community donations, is MCHPA's second after it lodged a case against the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) late last year.
That case is related to alleged flaws in AEMO's cost benefit analysis, known as the West Vic RIT-T, a public cost benefit analysis test that led to the preferred option for the WRL.
It has been put on hold while the case against the minister progresses.
A Victorian government spokesperson said the transmission infrastructure was "critical to delivering cheaper, more reliable renewable energy to homes and businesses across the state".
"It would be inappropriate to comment while the matter remains before the court."
MCHPA formed in 2020 and consists of landholders along the proposed route, and their supporters.
A lengthy dispute
Communities in Victoria's west have been fighting against the WRL for years.
It proposes a 190-kilometre overheard high-voltage electricity transmission line that will connect Bulgana in the west to Sydenham in Melbourne's north west.
The government says new transmission lines are needed to distribute renewable energy produced in the west.
The VNI West project will connect the WRL to New South Wales.
The alliance's case against the minister will return to court for a directions hearing in June.
