12 Australian farming families fined $814 each over power line survey access

Farmers in western Victoria protest against the proposed VNI West transmission line. Image: ABC News. Twelve farming families in western Victoria, Australia, have been fined A$814 each for refusing to allow authorised officers onto their properties to conduct surveys for a proposed 480-kilometre electricity transmission line. The families say the project, known as Victoria to New South Wales Interconnector West (VNI West), threatens agricultural land, farm operations and the future of properties that some have worked for generations. Another six landowners received formal warnings after denying access. The fines, issued in August 2026, have intensified opposition to the multibillion-dollar infrastructure project, with affected farmers challenging the government's approach to private property access. The dispute has since moved towards a legal challenge, while the project's environmental assessment remains underway.Why were 12 Australian farming families fined?The Victorian government issued the infringement notices on August 4, 2026, after the landholders refused access to authorised officers seeking to undertake preliminary investigations for VNI West. The notices alleged that the...