Local knowledge moves powerline in Great Southern
Release Date: 12 December 2007
Western Power met with the Stakeholder Advisory Group in Cranbrook yesterday to report on how information gathered at a meeting in November had helped change the three preferred corridors for the proposed Kojonup to Albany 132,000 volt transmission line.
Major Projects Coordinator, Mr Ian Buchanan said the Stakeholder Advisory Group was formed to provide Western Power and GHD with specific local information and knowledge and has made a very positive contribution to the process of analysing and assessing potential corridors.
"They have provided us with a great deal of information and I would like to thank them for their time and effort.
"Around 40 members of the Advisory Group shared their local knowledge and identified 102 new pieces of information that were then investigated.
"This new information was exactly what we were looking for and included airstrips and potential airstrips, proximity to housing or potential housing, significant remnant vegetation, wetlands, areas of Aboriginal significance, wine growing and tourist areas.
"As a result of this important feedback, the previously identified blue, yellow and red corridor options have been adjusted in 6 locations.
"Western Power's consultant on this project, GHD, is now including those changes into the multi criteria analysis that will be used to determine a preferred corridor that has the least overall impact on the community," Mr Buchanan said.
Western Power expects to announce the preferred corridor by April 2008.
"Once a corridor is selected, Western Power will return to consult with individual landowners to select the line route within the preferred corridor.
"A visual impact study will also be commissioned by Western Power once a line route is selected for inclusion into the referral of the project to the Environmental Protection Authority," Mr Buchanan said.
Western Power expects to submit this project to the Economic Regulation Authority for approval in first half of 2008 and refer the project for environmental for approval in late 2008.
The new line is needed to meet the growing demand for power in the Great Southern, and is an exciting development for the future growth of the southwest and represents a significant investment by Western Power.
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