A transmission easement is a legal right that allows Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) to use part of a landholder’s property to build, operate, and maintain transmission lines. For VNI West, the easement is typically 70-metres wide, with a temporary 100-metre construction area used while the infrastructure is built.
- It is registered on the land title and remains in place unless both parties agree to change or remove it.
- Landholders keep ownership of their property, but use of the easement area is subject to agreed terms.
- After construction, TCV may need occasional access to maintain the infrastructure and ensure safety.
Easements are only sought where transmission infrastructure is proposed. TCV is working with landholders to minimise impacts and ensure fair agreements.
In October 2024, TCV released the Preferred Easement report identifying a proposed 70-metre-wide easement for the transmission line. This has been further refined in 2025, based on landholder feedback, initial existing conditions, technical assessments, and consultation. The Project Easement represents the proposed project area, but it is still subject to confirmation through the Environment Effects Statement (EES) process, which includes completion of technical specialist studies and community engagement
If your property is not within the Project Easement, it is unlikely to be directly impacted. However, if you are a neighboring landholder, you may still receive updates and you may be eligible for impact payments, or you may be contacted by our team. You can reach our Neighbour Liaison via enquiries@transmissionvictoria.com.au or by calling 1800 824 221.
If your property is within the Project Easement, TCV will contact you directly to discuss next steps, including land access, easement agreements, and how we can work with you to minimise impacts.
If your property is located within the Project Easement, you are considered an impacted landholder. Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) has assigned a dedicated Landholder Liaison to work directly with you.
Landholder Liaisons are contacting impacted landholders to understand land use, discuss the project, and answer questions. Contact is made using publicly available information, starting with phone calls where numbers are available. If a phone number is not listed, TCV will send letters to the registered postal address or leave information packages on the property. If these methods are unsuccessful, a site visit may be attempted.
If you believe you are an impacted landholder and have not yet connected with your Landholder Liaison, please contact the Community Engagement Team on 1800 824 221 or email enquiries@transmissionvictoria.com.au.
Field surveys are essential to help identify the most suitable route for the VNI West transmission line and to understand environmental, cultural, and land use impacts. These surveys are a key part of the Environment Effects Statement (EES) process, which will continue through 2026.
To carry out these surveys, Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) is seeking access to both public and private land. For private properties, access is arranged through a voluntary agreement with landholders. This is done via a Land Access Agreement (LAA) or, from June 2025, an Enablement and Access Deed.
These agreements outline:
- When and how access will occur
- Biosecurity and safety requirements
- Entry points and approved equipment
- Notice periods and landholder preferences
Landholders are eligible for Access Payments and can have legal costs reimbursed. You may also be present during surveys if you choose.
If voluntary access cannot be agreed, TCV may seek access under Section 93 of the Electricity Industry Act 2000, following strict legal and procedural requirements. This is only considered after multiple engagement attempts and where surveys are time sensitive.
For more details, refer to the Landholder Guide 2025.
A Land Access Payment is provided to landholders who voluntarily allow Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) to conduct field surveys on their property as part of the VNI West project.
Up until June 2025, this is managed through a Land Access Agreement (LAA). From June 2025 onwards, landholders will be offered an Enablement and Access Deed, which replaces the LAA for new agreements and includes an Access Licence outlining how access will occur
The payment amount remains the same under both agreements and is based on the size of the land being accessed:
- Up to $10,000 for properties with up to 299 acres (paid over two years)
- Additional payments may apply for larger properties
- No land access payment will exceed $50,000
By signing the Enablement and Access Deed, landholders also become eligible to receive the first 20% of the Landholder Benefit Payment, which recognises their role in enabling critical infrastructure. This payment is made within 20 business days of signing the Deed
TCV will also reimburse reasonable legal costs for landholders seeking independent advice on these agreements.
For full details, refer to TCV’s 2025 Landholder Guide.
TCV’s Option for Easement agreement, provided to Landholders from July 2025 in their Land Easement and Access Packages, provides clarity and consistency. The Option for Easement terms are shaped to be more favourable to landholders than what’s typically seen in other transmission and infrastructure projects. They include stronger protections around risk and liability.
This position sets a new benchmark for how easements can be negotiated fairly and was informed by feedback from the VNI West Community Reference Group and lessons from other major projects.
TCV commits to not make any claim against a landholder except where claims are directly caused by a landholder’s breach of the agreement, negligence, fraud or deliberate misconduct. By contrast, the Landholder commitment not to claim against TCV is very narrow, as it doesn’t apply to all loss caused by TCV.
TCV: Releases landholders from any claim except to the extent directly caused by the breach, negligent act (or omission), fraud or deliberate misconduct of landholder.
Landholders: Releases TCV from any claim except to the extent caused by TCV.
TCV’s promise to pay the landholder for any claim for loss is very broad. It means that TCV promises to pay for any damage caused by TCV (except to the extent contributed to by the landholder’s negligence, etc).
By contrast, the landholder promise to pay TCV only arises where the landholder has first been negligent, or in breach, etc. If a landholder causes a loss to the project, but the landholder is not negligent, in breach, or engaging in deliberate misconduct, the landholder does not promise to pay the project.
TCV: Indemnifies the landholder against any claim for loss caused by TCV, except to the extent caused or contributed to by landholder’s negligent act (or omission), breach, or deliberate misconduct.
Landholders: Indemnifies TCV against any claim for any loss caused by the landholder’s negligent act (or omission), breach, or deliberate misconduct except to the extent caused or contributed to by TCV’s negligent act (or omission), breach, fraud, deliberate misconduct.
A Limit of Liability is an agreement that the parties will not seek to recover any loss exceeding the limit of liability from the other party. For example, if a landholder causes $15m of damage to the project (but, has not done so through fraud or deliberate misconduct), TCV may only claim $10m from the landholder. By contrast, a landholder could claim up to $20m of damages from TCV, if TCV causes damage to a landholder.
TCV: TCV’s maximum liability to the landholder is $20m, unless the loss is a result of the fraud or deliberate misconduct of TCV.
Landholders: Landholder’s maximum liability to TCV is $10m, unless the loss is a result of the fraud or deliberate misconduct of the landholder.
An Excluded Loss is a provision that sets out certain categories of loss that the parties agree will not be recoverable from the other party.
This exclusion will not apply to TCV’s liability to the landholder where the loss is due to TCV’s negligent act or omission, fraud or deliberate misconduct.
By contrast, a landholder would only be liable for TCV Excluded Losses if caused by landholder fraud or deliberate misconduct only.
This should give landholders comfort that they will not be liable for (as an example) power outages or transmission line interruptions.
TCV: TCV will not be liable to the landholder for Excluded Loss (business interruption, loss of use, loss of business, or loss of goodwill, loss of profit or revenue not arising directly from a breach of the agreement, or consequential, special or contingent loss), except where the loss is a result of TCV’s negligent act or omission, fraud or deliberate misconduct.
Landholders: Landholder will not be liable to TCV for Excluded Loss, except where the loss is a result of the landholder’s fraud or deliberate misconduct.
Current advice from the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) indicates that insurers generally do not have specific concerns about properties hosting transmission lines or neighbouring energy infrastructure. Insurance coverage and premiums are assessed based on the individual circumstances of each landholder and policyholder
If you have concerns, you are encouraged to speak directly with your insurance broker or provider to understand how your coverage may be affected.
Learn more in the Insurance Council of Australia’s Farm Insurance and Energy Infrastructure fact sheet.
If your insurance premiums increase as a result of hosting transmission infrastructure, TCV will assess and compensate those costs through the Option for Easement agreement. You will need to provide premium information from your insurer or broker, and any agreed payments will be recorded in your compensation package. Learn more in TCV’s Transmission Infrastructure and Insurance fact sheet.
The project operator, not the landholder, is responsible for maintaining and insuring the transmission infrastructure. This includes public liability insurance for construction, operation, and maintenance activities. TCV releases landholders from any claim except to the extent directly caused by a breach of agreement, negligent act (or omission), fraud or deliberate misconduct of landholder.
