New powerline for Northampton
Release Date: 20 July 2007
Western Power has announced a proposal to build a 132,000 volt transmission line between an existing substation in Spalding and a proposed substation in Northampton, north of Geraldton, to meet a growing demand for power in the Northampton and Kalbarri areas.
Western Power will invite interested community members to participate in consultation sessions to help determine the best location for the new line.
Western Power's Major Project Coordinator, Mr Ian Buchanan said that although the substation sites were known, the line route between the two substations was yet to be determined.
"The proposed powerline will link the existing Chapman zone substation on Chapman Valley Road, Spalding to a substation yet to be constructed on a site owned by Western Power on Isachar Back Road, Northampton.
"At this point, Western Power has no preferred line route and it is seeking community input to help determine options for the line route corridor.
"Community involvement is very important at this early stage as it will provide us with local knowledge of the area and help determine the most suitable corridor within which to build this new powerline.
"It is very likely that the transmission line route corridor will run through residential areas (along roadways) and farming land.
"Reducing the impact of this line on potentially affected landowners is very important to us, every effort will be made to choose a corridor with the least impact on social, environmental, technical and economic issues.
"To assist in determining the best possible location for this line, we have engaged independent consultants, Strategen, to undertake the corridor selection process," Mr Buchanan said.
The new line is required to meet growing demand for power in the Kalbarri and Northampton areas, where the existing network is tipped to reach capacity in 2011. The line will also service the electricity demands of a number of infrastructure projects proposed in the region.
Community consultation into the preferred corridor selection process will commence in August and run through to January 2008. Western Power will advertise in the near future, the details of when and where local community consultation sessions will be held.
Environmental surveys will take place between September and October 2007, with construction expected to commence in 2009.
Contact us
If you have any questions regarding this media release please email us: media@westernpower.com.au
