Speaking about the 51-kilometre long transmission line from the Salt Creek wind farm north of Mortlake to Terang where they connect with the electricity grid, Mr Tehan said “he had never seen anything more disgraceful in his eight years” as an elected member.

Mr Tehan said the poles for the transmission lines were located too close to roads and were a traffic accident risk.

“They are within two metres of the roads.

“There has been no planning.

“The state government needs to take action against what has occurred,” Mr Tehan said.

He joins his Liberal colleague, State Member for Polwarth Richard Riordan and many members of the south-west community in expressing concern about the large scale, location and likely multiplicity of transmission lines coming from the increasing number of wind farms in the region.

Concern is mounting because wind energy company Acciona’s decision to build its Mortlake South wind farm also involves connecting to the electricity grid at Terang, which could involve more large transmission lines running along roadsides.

Jennifer Jackson, of Terang, said many south-west residents wanted the wind farm companies to share transmission lines.

Acciona managing director Brett Wickham said it was in discussions with Tilt Renewables, which built the line for the Salt Creek wind farm, about sharing the line. 

Ms Jackson said the large pylons for the lines made an appalling visual impact but they were currently classed as minor utilities and didn’t need planning approval.

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