Victorian council says VNI West powerline plan needed to 'keep the lights on' as new route surprises farmers

The Gannawarra Shire Council is throwing its support behind the new preferred route for the VNI West project. (Supplied: Pexels)

A regional council says a contentious government plan to build more transmission lines across Victoria and New South Wales "needs to be done", despite community backlash. 

The Victorian government this week released a new preferred route and development plan for the Victoria to New South Wales Interconnector (VNI) West project, which is part of a strategy to reach its target of 95 per cent renewable energy by 2035.