Federal government launches review of transmission line planning to ease community opposition

The federal government has sought to head off a growing backlash from communities affected by proposed high-voltage transmission lines by launching a review of how projects are planned. Key points: The federal government has launched a review of transmission line planning and approvals The review comes amid growing angst about transmission projects in affected communities Authorities say an extra 10,000km of high-voltage lines are needed for the clean energy transition Federal Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen acknowledged that approval processes for transmission projects needed to be improved to ensure communities in the path of lines were better heard and received "better dividends". "I certainly understand that transmission lines are in your face, if you like," Mr Bowen said. Divide over projects deepens The Australian Energy Market Operator, which runs Australia's major power systems, has used its blueprint for the energy transition to call for a big expansion of the country's transmission networks. To that end, Mr Bowen said the review of transmission planning and investment by Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner Andrew Dyer would recommend improvements to the way projects were handled.