AEMO to tender for a VNI West delivery partner

AEMO has started a process to select a partner to work alongside TCV to continue to develop the VNI West project, assist with the completion of the early works, and to eventually build, own and operate VNI West.

In September AEMO will release a tender to the Transmission Network Service Provider (TNSP) market to identify organisations with the capability and capacity to deliver VNI West in Victoria.

AEMO will carefully evaluate each tenderer’s capabilities prior to selecting a partner by the end of the year. There will be an extensive onboarding period where the successful tenderer will work alongside AEMO to continue to develop the project including the Environment Effects Statement (EES) process over the next 18 months.

Important criteria for selecting the right partner will include their demonstrated ability to build trust with the community and deliver on community benefits. We will work with the development partner under a collaborative contract model to ensure strong continuity in relationships. The onboarding process will allow the new party a full understanding of issues, concerns and commitments made in discussions with landholders and the community over the past two years. Conversations with landholders and communities will continue to be an important input as the project progresses.

In a practical sense, during this time there won’t be any change in day-to-day dealings with TCV staff. TCV will continue to develop the project through the early works phase, and Councils and community stakeholders, including the CRG, will continue to engage and consult with the project team.

We believe that a collaborative contract model will deliver advantages to the project and to local communities. It will build on the work done to date by the project team and inject additional expertise, new experience and greater resources to deliver the project efficiently and move it into operations.

Before the project moves into construction, when the time is right, the intention is that TCV will be acquired by the selected partner. It has always been AEMO’s plan to find a Transmission Network Service Provider (TNSP) to build, own and operate VNI West.

We will provide more information about the tender process as the detailed plans firm up. An update from AEMO about the Registration of Interest process, which opens to industry this week, can be found on the AEMO website.

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Survey activity update

Field survey activities on private land will continue in the coming weeks, to expand TCV’s understanding of key environmental and geological attributes in the VNI West project area.

Survey activities include ecology surveys using environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling across waterways to identify aquatic species diversity. This testing allows TCV to understand the local occurrence of aquatic species and to inform avoidance activities in project planning, without disrupting the ecosystem.

Private land field surveys across the draft corridor take place with the permission of landholders and are guided by individual Land Access Agreements. TCV follows strict biosecurity protocols, farm rules and landholder access conditions including thorough boot, equipment and vehicle washdowns, using specialised disinfectant cleaner PhytoClean on entry and exit from properties.

Learn more about land access in TCV’s Land Access Agreement explainer video.

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TCV appoints new VNI West Program Director

TCV is pleased to announce the appointment of Tony Hedley as VNI West Program Director. Tony brings over 30 years of experience in planning and delivering major projects across Victoria.

“I am excited to be joining the TCV team to progress this essential infrastructure project,” he said.

“I look forward to meeting community members, landholders, Traditional Owners and other key stakeholders in coming months.”

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Get in touch

If you have a question you would like to ask, please get in contact through the details below.

Email: enquiries@transmissionvictoria.com.au
Phone: 1800 824 221
Website: transmissionvictoria.com.au

Kerang Office: Shop 15, 47 Victoria Street, Patchell Plaza, Kerang.
Open 12pm to 4:30pm on Tuesdays and 9am to 1pm on Wednesdays.