Business & Rural
10 June, 2026
Routine meeting turns sour as VicGrid leaves farmers unheard again
A ROUTINE community meeting involving VicGrid and Buloke and Northern Grampians representatives descended into a farce last night.
A ROUTINE community meeting involving VicGrid and Buloke and Northern Grampians representatives descended into a farce last night.
With a strong security and police presence at Charlton Park, VicGrid personnel left the room when farmers tried to ask questions and have their voices heard.
St Arnaud Victorian Farmers Federation representative Colin Coates said he hadn't even heard the local farmers come into the room during the meeting.
"I saw about five people standing at the back of the room, turned around and next thing we knew there was about 35 people back there," he said.
"The just came in so quietly and they weren't aggressive, they just wanted their voices heard.
"There was another 20 people outside too apparently."
Mr Coates said while there were some raised voices from the crowd, they never got to the point where police needed to get involved.
"There was no swearing, no aggression," he said.
"I've never once seen a group of farmers, whether it be on their land or anywhere else, get aggressive. They always protest peacefully."
In a video posted to social media, the farmers said they only wanted for their voices to be heard.
"We want community consultation and transparency," one person said. "You could have done this five years ago and you didn't bother."
"They just don't want to listen to us, they don't," another person said.
Mr Coates said the meeting was stopped abruptly and the VicGrid personnel left the room, which aggitated the farmers.
"(VicGrid project delivery director) Mick Douge saw it fit to shut the meeting down and I think that was the worst thing he could have done," he said.
It was at this point, the crowd did get aggitated and told them to "run away, yep run away".
Mr Coates said VicGrid were out of the room for around five minutes before they re-entered and did converse with the farmers.
He said there were some raised voices, but nothing aggressive.
"I just think it could have been done better, it could have been a lot easier if they had just listened in the first place," he said.
"If I was chairing the meeting, I would have given the people five questions, go around the room and let them be heard, because that's all they want."
Mr Coates said the meeting was a regular one that brings together organisations like VicGrid, Buloke and Northern Grampians shire councils (and others at times), Dja Dja Wurrung representatives and others to discuss the state of the projects and provide minutes to relevant government ministers.