Councillor Daniel Meade put forward a notice of motion at the December monthly meeting that “the shire support the United Dairyfarmers of Victoria Wannon Branch, in calling on the Victorian State Government to ensure those responsible for power transmission, maintain and upgrade infrastructure to safe, secure and stable levels that protect rural and regional communities”. 

The UDV Wannon branch believes electricity distribution companies should be accountable for the financial and emotional costs to families, employees and communities because of fires caused by unsafe, unstable, ineffective or substandard transmission infrastructure. 

The branch is lobbying state, federal and local governments throughout the south-west to push for the reforms and also called on the state government to investigate the practices undertaken by electricity distribution companies to maintain the poles and wire power infrastructure in Victorian regional and rural communities.

Cr Meade said Moyne backed the UDV’s position. 

“The UDV Wannon branch asked us if they would support their own resolution,” he said. 

“I put it to my fellow councillors and got full support.

“The Garvoc farmers were heavily affected by the St Patrick’s Day fires and there is still an ongoing battle for them. It's still not up to scratch. There are still damaged poles on their properties and blind Freddy can see that they are putting lives at risk.”

Cr Meade said the council would be “pushing the barrow hard” with the State Government.

“We will be pushing for stronger regulations and enforcement on these power pole companies so they don't put rural taxpayers at risk,” he said.

“They shouldn't be living in fear like that. We will add it to our advocacy list, it only adds weight to the cause.

“Moyne Shire understands the importance of agriculture as an industry to our shire and these dodgy power poles are a risk to this industry.”