Baldivis substation update archive

History

The site was vested with us in May 1997 by the state Government and zoned as a future substation site at that time. 

August 2010 - Landscaping and Screening Design Community Workshop

Minutes and feedback on some actions from the Landscaping and Screening Community Workshop (PDF 59kb).

June 2010 - New Project Coordinator

Note: that the previous Project Coordinator for this project, Kathy Craig, has now left Western Power. The new contact for this project is Nick Cullen who can be contacted on (08)9326 4148.

New trees planted

On 10 June 2010, we planted tress in the road reserve between Eighty Road and Teasdale Way. This was done in response to concerns raised by residents earlier in the year. As the plants mature they will help to screen the view of the substation which will eventually be blocked by the future development of the market garden area. To address the views from other properties we will be ordering tubestock which will be given to surrounding properties to plant on their own property.

June 2010  - Noise information 

As follow up to our community session last week, please find some additional information regarding noise, as requested. We are finalising the workshop minutes and will have them on the website early next week.

Draft screening concepts available for comment

Western Power has developed three substation screening concepts, which you can access here on our website. There is also a short survey available for you to complete, if you wish, so you can let us know what you think of the plans.

The workshop on Tuesday 25 May 2010 (details below) will look at these concepts in more detail, and will explore ideas for landscaping.

These plans are in draft, and have been developed based on comments received from the community to-date. They have been specifically created for the community to consider their ideas and suggestions visually.

Three concepts have been developed from the first landscaping and design community workshop on 25th February 2010. The three concepts are:

  • Option 1 - Weld mesh fence - a permeable surface which provides the highest level of security monitoring. This option is cost effective and is the easiest to maintain of all the options. There is no surface for graffiti and was suggested in the first community workshop to have a lesser visual impact than a solid wall.
    Picture 1 Picture 2 Picture 3 Picture 4 Picture 5
  • Option 2 - Solid Wall - the wall would be constructed out of tilt panels. It provides the highest level of screening however does present the highest risk for graffiti and does not allow outside monitoring of the infrastructure.
    Picture 1 Picture 2 Picture 3

  • Option 3 - Combination of weld mesh fence and solid wall - this option was developed in response to the concerns raised in the first community workshop as well as the Western Power constraints. This option allows walls to be used on parts of the substation that are considered to be sensitive to noise or visual impact. The combination still allows some visual monitoring of the infrastructure and does reduce the risk of graffiti as compared to the solid wall option.
    Picture 1 Picture 2 Picture 3

Photo montages from various view points have been created for each concept to allow workshop participants and other community members to view each of the ideas. The purpose of this information is to assist community members to identify their preference/s. The avenue for comment will remain open for one week after the workshop (until 01/06/2010) to allow community members who could not attend, to provide their comment and opinion.

You may either complete our survey or contact us on the details provided below to provide your comments.

It is recommended that you read this information in conjunction with the information from Workshop 1 to better understand the background, particularly if you were unable to attend.

Minutes from the second workshop (25 May) and a summary of the responses will then be posted on out website to share the feedback we have received. It is anticipated this information will be available by 12/06/2010.

The new Project Coordinator, Nick Cullen, will contact residents regarding this in the near future.

April 2010

Western Power is currently developing a number of draft wall and fence concept plans, which we will soon be presenting back to the community for comment.

These plans are based on comments received from participants in a workshop help in March 2010, plus comments received after the workshop from interested community members.

Community Landscaping and Design Workshop

We are hosting a second Community Landscaping and Design Workshop in May - Details below.

  • Date: Tuesday 25 May 2010
    Time: 6.00pm - 7.30pm
    Location: Settlers Hill Community House, 1 Huxtable Terrace, Baldivis

Please ensure that you RSVP to kathy.craig@westernpower.com.au if you plan to attend this session so that suitable meeting arrangements can be made.

Invitations will be sent to surrounding residents shortly, and advertising will be undertaken in local publications.

We are aiming to make the draft landscaping concepts available online approximately 1 week prior to the session so that the community has a chance to consider them and discuss with friends and neighbours. Watch this space.

We have recently reviewed the timelines for this project, and an indicative schedule is provided below.

Landscaping Design Workshop #1 March 2010
Landscaping Design Workshop #2 May 2010
Landscaping Design Workshop #3 September 2010
Landscaping Design Plans finalised November 2010
Development Application submitted to City of Rockingham January 2011
Required in service date November 2013

March 2010

Last week, Western Power hosted a community workshop to discuss the landscaping and screening design of the proposed Baldivis substation.

The meeting purpose was to seek community comment, ideas and suggestions on the landscaping and screening design for the Baldivis substation. All feedback was recorded and will inform the development of landscaping and screening plans for the site.

The workshop ran from 6 pm – 8 pm and was attended by 10 community/stakeholder participants and 6 Western Power representatives. The meeting was facilitated by independent facilitator Carol Whish-Wilson.

The ideas and comments raised by participants at the session were useful and constructive, and the project team extends their sincere thanks to the attendees.

Key documents from the meeting, including a meeting summary, are provided below:

Participants at the meetings requested further information about noise mitigation and monitoring. 

Western Power will now develop some landscaping and design concepts which will incorporate the ideas and comments raised in the workshop. It is expected the concepts will be completed and be ready for community feedback in May 2010 at which time another community workshop with be held.

Ultimately, we expect to lodge a development application for the project by late 2010/early 2011, so would be aiming to have a finalised landscaping and screening design by this time.

If you have any comments or ideas in the meantime, or would like to request hard copies of any of the attached documents, please contact Kathy Craig on (08)9326 6070 or post your thoughts on our blog site www.youhavethepower.com.au

December 2009

On the evening of 8 December 2009, we held a Community Contact Session at the Baldivis Community Centre.  Although there was no new information to present at this session, we were keen to make ourselves available to the local community to answer any questions or concerns and collect nominations for the design consultation phase. One community member attended the session.

In the new year, we will be commencing community engagement regarding the landscaping plans for the substation. Anyone interested in nominating for involvement in this process should contact Kathy on (08)9326 6070 or email kathy.craig@westernpower.com.au. For those who wish to be involved in the design consultation process, it is recommended contact be made to Kathy Craig to ensure your details are recorded.

In the meantime, please contact us with any queries, and have a safe and happy festive season.

Meet with Western Power – December 2009

In line with our commitment to be available and accessible to the community, we will be hosting an informal open house session on Tuesday December 8, 2009. There will be no additional or new information to share, however we wanted to be available to answer any questions and discuss the project with residents.

At that time we will also be taking details from people interested in providing input into the landscape design around the substation. Discussing these details with local residents will be an ongoing process, and we encourage you to share your ideas.
We will be available at the following time for you to drop in and see us:

  • Date: Tuesday 8 December 2009
  • Time: Anytime between 5pm and 7pm
  • Location: Baldivis Community Centre, 1 Huxtable Terrrace, Baldivis.
  • Complimentary coffee, tea and hot chocolate will be available from a mobile refreshment service.

If you have any queries, or cannot make the session and would like to register for ongoing involvement, please contact Project Officer Kathy Craig on:

October 2009

The following documents are now available:

If you have problems downloading these files please contact the project officer, Kathy Craig, on 9326 6070 or email kathy.craig@westernpower.com.au.

September 2009

Western Power will be hosting a community outreach session at the Baldivis community centre from 5 pm to 8 pm on Thursday 24 September 2009.  The address is 1 Huxtable Terrace, Baldivis. The main aim of the session will be to help the community understand our decision making process and explain why Site 3 is the preferred option.  The session format will be open house, with a number of Western Power representatives available to answer questions and address any concerns.  Additionally, a representative from Curtin University of Technology will also be available to answer questions about the multi-criteria assessment approach.

During the community outreach session we will ask residents and community members to register their interest in collaborating with us on designing the surrounding landscape for the substation site.

July 2009

Western Power has received a request from a landowner to consider a land swap whereby Western Power would exchange its current substation site for an alternate site at a more suitable location.

The three sites under consideration are

Site 1: The original site at 780 Eighty Road.

Site 2:  A site at the corner of Pike Road and Eighty Road

Site 3: A site approximately 200 m west of Site 2.

Western Power is assessing the best site for the development of the of a substation using a mult-criteria assessment. The multi-criteria assessment is a way for Western Power to compare the options in consideration of all the decision making factors.  The process will allow Western Power to assess and compare the merits of each site and select the most sustainable option.

April 2009

Western Power met with the Settlers Hill Residency Association on Wednesday 15 April to hear from the residents and provide the latest information about the project.

Landscape designs

Western Power is awaiting the designs of the landscaping options for the area around the substation from landscape architects Ecoscape.  The designs will be presented to the community for comment.  Western Power encourages the community to participate in the process so that the most suitable design is selected.

In additon Western Power will be planting screening vegetation in the section of land between Eighty Road and Sibley Ramble to screen the substation from residents on Sibley Ramble.  Residents will be notified prior to planting.

 

March 2009

Western Power met with the City of Rockingham Planning Committee on Monday 16 March.  The meeting was to discuss the site history and the intended plans for the site.

Western Power is awaiting the photomontage from its landscape architects displaying the landscaping options for the completed substation site.

On site works

Western Power has engaged ABAXA to conduct soil tests on the Baldivis substation site and on the corner of Pike and Eighty Road.

The tests will be undertaken on 25 March 2009 and will take approximately five hours to complete.

The tests are to determine the thermal reistivity of the soil.  The information is used for some of the design elements of the substation.

February 2009

Western Power met with the Settlers Hill Substation Action group on Wednesday 25 February. The meeting was attended by approximately 30 community members and three Western Power representatives.

Western Power representatives listened to community concerns in an informal open meeting.  Western Power would like to extend its thanks to the community for attending the meeting and thank the attendees for their input.
 
Western Power will next seek community input for comment on the landscaping of the area around the Baldivis substation.

Western Power representatives are available for individual meetings with concerned community members who would like more information about the project.  For further details contact us.

Common questions regarding the Baldivis substation raised at the substation action group meeting on 25 February 2009 and received from other residents and stakeholders. Frequently asked questions (PDF 37kb). 

To view PDF files you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.