New line route corridors for southwest transmission line
Release Date: 04 July 2007
Western Power has identified potential line corridors for two transmission lines that will reinforce power supplies to the growing southwest region. Three line route corridors have been identified for each of the new proposed lines.
The lines will travel from Kojonup to Albany and then from Albany to Wellstead to meet the increased demand for power in Albany and to potentially supply the proposed magnetite mine at Wellstead.
Over 800 residents, on property within any of the new line route corridors, have been invited to participate in workshops and provide input into how the two final preferred corridors are selected.
In May 2007 a series of information sessions were held to help determine possible line route corridors. Two Corridor Selection Panels (CSP) were formed, one for each transmission line. These groups consisted of representatives from a broad range of stakeholders, including shires, local government, community groups and land and business owners.
The CSP's identified three potential corridors for each proposed line. They also refined the criteria, which will be used to compare the potential corridors, and identify the preferred options for each line.
The corridors chosen are approximately 1 kilometre wide, and were designed to avoid constraints such as homesteads, airstrips, and environmentally sensitive areas and built up areas.
Western Power's Major Projects Coordinator, Mr Ian Buchanan, said that Western Power is now in the process of looking at the three corridor options for each line and will be working with directly affected residents.
"The workshops will help us gather information about the area and will ultimately help determine the best corridor option.
"The residents will be considering, as part of the assessment criteria, environmental, social, technical and economic aspects of the proposed line and then weight that criteria.
"By attending these workshops, affected residents can play a very important role in helping us understand what is important to their local community.
"We welcome any affected resident who would like to participate in this process because it is with their help that the best possible option is chosen," Mr Buchanan said.
The workshops will be held from 24 July to 15 August 2007 in numerous locations throughout the Great Southern.
The proposed transmission line between Muja and Southdown that Western Power originally investigated remains an option. It is not a foregone conclusion that the Albany to Wellstead transmission line will be built.
Grange Resources will advise Western Power if it will adopt a staged development of its mine by the end of 2007.
The Kojonup to Albany line will go ahead to meet power needs in the Albany region by 2011.
The only effect that the Grange decision (to use the Albany-Wellstead line and not the Muja-Southdown line) will have on the Kojonup to Albany line, is that it will be constructed at 220,000 volts instead of 132,000 volts.
Contact us
If you have any questions regarding this media release please email us: media@westernpower.com.au
