Understanding how VNI West may impact plants, wildlife and natural habitats in the project area.

Studies aim to assess:

• Native vegetation.

• Habitat.

• Threatened species.

• Migratory species.

• Protected flora and fauna.

• Offset requirements (compensating for biodiversity losses).

• Other factors.

Determining how Aboriginal cultural heritage values may be impacted by the VNI West project.

Studies aim to assess:

• Aboriginal places, objects and ancestral remains.

• Landmarks, artefacts and ceremonial sites.

• Plan(s) in accordance with requirements for a Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP).

• Plan(s) or partnerships with Registered Aboriginal Parties and Traditional Owners to protect cultural heritage.

• Other factors.

Learning more about potential impacts to different land use types in the project area.

Studies aim to assess:

• Short and long-term disruptions.

• Existing and proposed land uses (including agriculture).

• Public infrastructure and future upgrades.

• Fire and emergency management.

• Economic and social effects.

• Other factors.

Assessing potential social impacts posed by the project and its influence on individual and community wellbeing.

Studies aim to assess:

• Potential effects on the community and social setting (including wellbeing).

• Social cohesion.

• Other factors.

Understanding how local and regional economies may be impacted by the project.

Studies aim to assess:

• Tourism and tourist attractions.

• Direct and indirect effects on employment, farming and agriculture.

• Direct and indirect effects on businesses, housing and the local and regional economy.

• Other factors.

Assessing potential project impacts to agriculture and farming.

Studies aim to assess:

• Productivity.

• Biosecurity risks.

• Constraints to cropping or grazing.

• Accessibility of land with farming equipment around transmission lines.

• Restrictions on farming practices.

• Other factors.

Understanding potential impacts of bushfire risk associated with the construction and operation of VNI West.

Studies aim to assess:

• Bushfire risk across project stages.

• Ability to manage and fight fires in proximity to transmission infrastructure.

• Bushfire suppression on surrounding land.

• Ignition risks.

• Other factors.

Determining potential project impacts on historic heritage, places, archaeological sites and landscapes.

Studies aim to assess:

• Listed sites in registers

• Previously unidentified places, objects and sites of historic heritage significance.

• Direct and indirect effects on sites.

• Managing historic heritage during construction.

• Other factors.

Establishing how the project may impact landscape and visual amenity in the VNI West project area.

Studies aim to assess:

• Landscape character and features.

• Landforms in the project’s vicinity.

• National parks and reserves.

• Visual effects for neighbours, residents and communities.

• Public and private viewpoints.

• Cumulative impacts with other visually significant developments.

• Other factors.

Understanding how the project may contribute to greenhouse gas and climate change impacts throughout all stages of the project.

Studies aim to assess:

• Credible climate change scenarios

• Scope of emissions from construction and operation

• Detailing initial climate risks and management controls.

• Other factors.

Learning more about local and downstream hydrology, surface and related environmental values that may be impacted by the project.

Studies aim to assess:

• Transmission line crossing at significant waterways.

• Installation of infrastructure within floodplain areas.

• Other factors.

Determining potential impacts to groundwater quality and movement in the VNI West project area.

Studies aim to assess:

• Groundwater quality and movement

• Groundwater bore users

• Ecological character of any groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs).

• Water extraction/dewatering.

• Other factors.

Establishing potential impacts to surface and sub-surface soil and rock conditions.

Studies aim to assess:

• Contaminated soils.

• Acid sulphate, saline or dispersive soils.

• Potential for erosion due to construction, operation or vegetation loss.

• Other factors.

Determining potential traffic and transport impacts associated with the construction and operation of VNI West.

Studies aim to assess:

• The use of local roads for construction corridor access.

• Safety issues related to property access and egress.

• Use of roads that overlap school bus routes.

• Risk of road deterioration from construction traffic.

• Other factors.

Assessing potential project impacts on aviation due to the construction and operation of VNI West.

Studies aim to assess:

• Adverse effects on aerial safety.

• Use of aircraft for farming practices, maintenance and fire-fighting.

• Aerodromes, air traffic control communications, radio navigation and surveillance facilities.

• Other factors.

Understanding potential impacts to air quality during all stages of the VNI West project.

Studies aim to assess:

• Local air quality.

• Sensitive land use during construction.

• Other factors.

Establishing potential noise and vibration impacts posed by the VNI West project.

Studies aim to assess:

• Existing noise environment.

• Background noise criteria.

• Vibration level criteria.

• Other factors.

Determining potential adverse effects of electric and magnetic fields (EMF) introduced by the project.

Studies aim to assess:

• Risks to human health.

• Electromagnetic or other radiation emissions.

• Electromagnetic interference with communication or infrastructure systems.

• Other factors.