Kemerton to Binningup transmission line
We are required to provide a 132,000 volt (132kV) transmission line to supply the Water Corporation’s proposed Southern Seawater Desalination Plant in Binningup.
The new line runs for 10km north-west from the current Kemerton Terminal Substation to a new substation to be constructed at Binningup located within the Water Corporation's new desalination plant.
Proposed timeline*
| August 2008 | Proposed line route announced |
| February 2009 | Environmental approvals commenced |
| October 2009 | Environmental approvals obtained |
| November 2009 | Clearing commenced |
| December 2009 | Construction commenced |
| July 2010 | Construction Completed |
| October 2010 | Revegetation Commences |
* subject to change
Consultation
The new transmission line was completed in July 2010. We commenced easement negotiations with landowners in August 2010.
We have been consulting with landowners and stakeholders affected by the new line since April 2008.
Environment
The proposed line route and the substation have undergone extensive flora and fauna surveys to assist us to minimise the impact of the project on the species endemic to the area. We appointed a fauna expert to provide advice on how to minimise the impact on local wildlife, particularly birds.
Greening Australia have been engaged to undertake the revegetation works required as condition of the project environmental approvals to offset vegetation clearing activities associated with the project. We committed to 21 hectares of revegetation within a degraded area of an unnamed Department of Environment and Conservation estate located approximately 5 kilometres south of our Kemerton Terminal and 1 hectare within the Kemerton Terminal property. Site preparation works are to commence in October, with planting and seeding to commence in winter 2011.
To mitigate the risk of bird strikes along the transmission line, we installed a significant number spiral bird flight diverters. To determine the effectiveness of this mitigation measure we have engaged Bamford Consulting Ecologists to undertaking monitoring of the waterbird activity in October 2010 to determine the effect of the diverters on bird behaviour.
In October this year we plan to install 10 artificial cockatoo nest hollow (cockatubes) in a private property located along the transmission line route. Suitable trees for the cockatubes installation have been identified in consultation with a fauna expert from the WA Museum. The cockatubes are being supplied by the Serpentine Jarrahdale Landcare group.
Contact us
For more information please contact Project Officer Lyall Murphy on 08 9326 4744.
