AEMO acknowledges the WVTNP will have impacts on local communities, as well as environmental features within the area including natural assets. Under the RIT-T application guidelines, the value of natural assets, where unable to be economically costed, are not able to be included within the cost estimation process of the RIT-T.
The RIT-T is the first stage of the development and represents an early hurdle before a project can move on to the next stages of investment, planning and approvals. The social and environmental impacts will be assessed at subsequent stages of the planning and approvals processes including as part of the Environment Effects Statement (EES).
AusNet Services will engage with stakeholders to better understand the biodiversity values of biolinks.