Bayview Heights to White Rock Underground Cable Project

Overview

Powerlink owns and operates 2.7km of 275kV underground high voltage transmission cables that run between the Bayview Heights and White Rock transition stations in Cairns.  

Installed in 1997, the 2.7km of underground cables are critical to maintaining a reliable, secure and safe power supply for residents and businesses in Cairns and the Far North Queensland region.  

Powerlink maintains an easement along the length of the underground cables so we can safely operate and maintain the transmission cables. 

Since the underground cables were installed, there has been significant development in the Mount Sheridan area, including the residential Forest Gardens Estate. Over time, vegetation has grown around the underground cables and easement.  

Essential works to ensure the continued secure supply of power to the Cairns region are required along sections of the underground cable and easement located in Mount Sheridan’s Forest Gardens Estate and include:  

• vegetation management along the easement, including selected tree removal of approximately 385 trees identified as being a high or future risk to the underground cables   
• easement restoration, including replanting with compatible vegetation  
• refurbishment works at two cable joint bay sites located near Alpinia Terrace and Amazon Close.   

We will minimise impacts wherever possible and are committed to keeping residents and the community updated on start and finish dates for all planned works.  

Status

Easement restoration  

Powerlink is committed to restoring the easement while maintaining required safety clearances for the underground cables and easement.   

We have been working with Cairns Regional Council to appropriately plan for easement restoration works, including identifying new amenity opportunities for the area such as shade structures and seating.   

Along with community feedback, the planning process has considered:  

• clearance requirements for the underground cables and easement   
• Council’s policies and standards for public open spaces   
• compatible species types and availability of locally propagated stock   
• users of the Crowleys Creek walking path   
• opportunities for new amenities and vegetation to address shade loss   
• ongoing vegetation management and maintenance requirements   

Vegetation Restoration Zones  

We have been consulting with local nurseries in Cairns to seek feedback on compatible species types and understand the variety and availability of stock.   

An indicative species list for the easement restoration works is available under Resources – Vegetation Management Easement Restoration.  This is not a definitive list and is subject to change.   

While the species list is still being refined, the species used for the restoration works will be:   

• compatible with the underground cables and the easement in their mature state   
• locally propagated from local provenance seed and cuttings    
• determined by the availability of stock at the time of planting   

Vegetation restoration zones will guide what is planted based on the species type and the zone’s proximity to the underground cables. The zones are measured from the distance of the centre of the two underground cables.   

This approach of planting within zones will support a diversity of species while maintaining clearance requirements for the underground cables and easement.   

Two of the zones have limitations for vegetation:   

• Zone 1 (within 3m) limits vegetation to groundcovers only, such as grasses and rushes   
• Zone 5 (within 0 – 10m) prohibits the planting of any trees identified as having intrusive root systems   

In the other vegetation restoration zones, there will be opportunities to diversify the planting with palm lilies, shrubs, palms and trees. The image below shows the restoration zones and indications of compatible species types.    

Visuals showing the restoration zones and compatible species types are available under Resources – Visuals.  

Proposed amenities   

Initial feedback and easement restoration planning has identified potential opportunities for new amenities along the Crowleys Creek walking path and easement.   

To address some of the shade loss and enhance amenity for walking path users, three shelters are proposed at regular intervals along the easement near Alpinia Terrace, Blueberry Close and Matisia Close.  

The proposed shelters would be positioned to maximise shade throughout the year and for the convenience and accessibility of users. Features of the shelter could include:   

• bench seat with arm rests   
• water bubbler with dog bowl  
• steel shade structure with trellis at the back of the roof to enable climbing plants to provide dappled shade and amenity    

New shade trees and amenity plantings could be planted adjacent to the walking path where the shelters are proposed.   

To assist the community with providing feedback, visual materials have been prepared to show how the proposed amenities may look three to five years after the restoration works are completed.   

Alpinia Terrace viewpoints

Vegetation restoration planting, including new shade trees and amenity plantings adjacent to the walking path where amenities are proposed.   Proposed shelter with a bench seat and water bubbler with a dog water bowl.

Matisia Close viewpoint

Vegetation restoration planting including new shade trees and amenity plantings adjacent to the walking path where amenities are proposed.   Proposed shelter with a bench seat and water bubbler with a dog water bowl.

Proposed shelter sketch

Shelters are designed and proposed for locations near Alpinia Terrace, Blueberry Close and Matisia Close to provide shade and a resting point for walking path users.   Proposed shelters would provide access to all users with a sealed connection to the footpath.   Opportunity for a trellis on the back of the shelter structure to enable climbing plants to provide dabbled shade and amenity. Shelters would be oriented to maximise shade throughout the year.

Vegetation management 

The tree removal and vegetation management works required for 2024 are now complete.  

Community feedback informed the approach for vegetation management which involved removing most of the vegetation in 2024 including high risk trees and selected trees in four clusters to enable progressive easement restoration works to take place.  

Further tree removal will be undertaken in the 2025 dry season. More information about these activities will be provided in early 2025.  

Staging of works   

The vegetation removal and easement restoration works are being staged over a three-year period between 2024 and 2026. Maps showing the staging of these works is available under Resources – Vegetation Management and Easement Restoration.  

Maintenance requirement 

Essential cable joint refurbishment works are needed at two joint bay sites located within Powerlink’s easement, adjacent to Alpinia Terrace and Amazon Close in the Forest Gardens Estate.    

The refurbishment works on the joint bays will be undertaken during planned network outages in 2025 and will not result in any impacts to electricity supply.   

As the joint bays are located underground, the area above (approximately 20m x 12m), will be established as a construction site. This will involve installing fencing, vegetation clearing, excavation of the joint bays and setting up equipment in preparation for the refurbishment works.   

Some vegetation around the joint bay sites will remain until the refurbishment works start in the 2025 dry season.    

Community feedback and how to be involved

The community feedback we have received regarding the proposed amenities and their locations along the easement is being used to help inform and finalise the easement restoration plans.  

You can continue to provide your feedback on the project by:

• contacting our project team on 07 4034 7600 or [email protected]   
• completing a resident survey, open until Friday 6 December 2024. 

Further information

Local residents, the wider community and other stakeholders will be kept updated about this project through:  

• letterbox drops to properties in the project area    
• door-knocking residents directly neighbouring the easement  
• project newsletters    
• webpage updates    
• social media posts    
• signage along the easement     
• community information drop-in sessions.  

For more information on the Bayview Heights to White Rock Underground Cable project, please contact our project team on 07 4034 7600 or [email protected].   

Project background

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT

Powerlink undertakes regular inspections of our transmission network to monitor its condition and identify issues such as vegetation that can impact the reliability of power supply.  

If not managed appropriately, some vegetation can be a hazard to our network and damage critical infrastructure, affect power supply and impact easement clearance zones.  

Inspections of the underground cables, easement and neighbouring Bayview Heights Transition Station have identified significant issues with the surrounding vegetation. This includes species with intrusive root systems encroaching on the underground cables.  

It has been determined that selected tree removal and vegetation management is required along the easement to manage existing and future risks to the underground cables and ensure the continued secure supply of power to the Cairns region.  

Due to the extent of vegetation along the easement and its social and environmental value, a site-specific clearing approach has been developed for the project. The approach involves keeping as much existing vegetation as possible while managing risks to the underground cables.