Powerlink is planning for a new transmission line between the Calvale Substation (near Callide Power Station) and the Calliope River Substation (near Gladstone). The project will reinforce electricity supply to the Gladstone region, and increase network capacity and reliability to service the growing renewable energy industry in this area.
At 87km long, the new double circuit 275kV transmission line will mostly be co-located in an existing double-width easement, beside the existing 132kV and 275kV transmission lines. However, there is approximately 16km between Bracewell and East End, where easement widening is required.
This project is divided into five sections (A, B, C, D and E). All sections, except for Section C, have a vacant easement beside existing transmission lines. While the easement is vacant, it is not cleared, and some vegetation removal will be required across all sections, subject to planning and environmental approvals.
‘Co-location’ is when transmission lines are built side-by-side. In the right circumstances, it can have several benefits compared to separate corridors.
This includes restricting vegetation clearing to one corridor, avoiding further vegetation fragmentation. A co-located corridor also occupies less land than separate corridors. For landholders, it means fewer access tracks are required, lowering biosecurity risks and limiting land-use impacts to one part of the property.
In June 2024, Powerlink published a Draft Corridor Selection Report (Draft CSR) for the project.
Landholders, the community and other stakeholders were invited to provide feedback on the Draft CSR over a four-week consultation period.
Community information drop-in sessions were held in Biloela, Mount Larcom and Gladstone during July 2024, where the community had the opportunity to meet with our project team, ask questions and provide feedback. We thank the community for dropping by and sharing their insights with us.
We have now reviewed and considered feedback and prepared the Final Corridor Selection Report (Final CSR). This report confirms the recommended corridor in the Draft CSR, including the widening in Section C to the north of the existing easement.
You can view the Draft CSR and Final CSR on this webpage, under ‘Resources’.
Powerlink is committed to ongoing genuine and timely engagement to ensure we deliver positive outcomes for landholders, Traditional Owner groups, local communities, other stakeholders and the environment where our transmission infrastructure is located.
If you have any questions about the Calvale to Calliope River Transmission Line Reinforcement Project please contact us by:
Landholders along the recommended corridor are also welcome to contact their Landholder Relations Advisor. Please refer to contact details on the right of this page.
For safety and operational reasons, Powerlink must ensure clear access to and around our transmission lines. We try to minimise environmental impacts and only remove vegetation when absolutely necessary. Any impacts must be managed in accordance with state and federal legislation.
Environmental approvals are required for this project to appropriately manage vegetation clearing along the alignment. The project extends through different environments and terrain, mostly comprising rural land used for grazing.
However, it will also traverse some areas of State Forest and Conservation Park, and Calliope River Substation is located within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Powerlink will seek environmental approval from the Australian Government under the EPBC Act. Powerlink has commenced consultation with Traditional Owners and other stakeholder groups on cultural values and heritage impacts.
We understand that biosecurity is a priority for the Banana Shire and Gladstone communities. We take biosecurity seriously and have processes in place to avoid spreading weeds, pathogens and diseases between properties or introducing new biosecurity material from outside the local bioregion.
You can find out more about Powerlink’s systems and processes for managing biosecurity risk, including avoiding the spread of weeds, on this web page, under ‘Resources’.
In March 2024, the Queensland Government released the Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) Roadmap, to guide long-term regional planning and coordination for renewable energy. It outlines the process for declaring and developing REZs in Queensland, to ensure the right mix of energy technologies, in the right location.
The REZ Roadmap identifies a potential REZ for the Calliope region. For further information about the REZ Roadmap please visit the Department of Energy and Public Works.
Central
Transmission Lines
Easement
In Progress
