Project overview
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.
Project Benefits
- The new line will be co-located with existing infrastructure, reducing social, environmental and economic impacts compared to constructing in a new location
- Reinforces electricity supply to the Gladstone region
- Enables up to 1,800MW of renewable generation capacity
- Supports heavy industry to decarbonise and transition to clean energy
- Ensures more renewable energy can flow into the wider Gladstone region.
WHY CO-LOCATE TRANSMISSION LINES?
‘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.
Status
Planning and Environmental approvals underway
Powerlink takes our environmental responsibilities seriously and we are committed to comprehensively managing any potential environmental impacts resulting from our proposed activities for this project.
In November 2024, Powerlink referred the project to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) for assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act). DCCEEW will now decide whether to classify the project as a ‘Controlled Action’, which means the project would require Commonwealth approval under the EPBC Act.
Powerlink is also seeking planning approval from the Queensland Government, under the Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) process. This process is managed by the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning (DSDIP) with input from other government agencies.
The project’s MID application will include an Environmental Assessment Report (EAR), describing in detail the findings of more than 18 months of desktop and detailed field studies, including flora and fauna, social and cultural heritage assessments. We expect the formal 20 business day consultation period on the project’s EAR to occur in early to mid 2025.
Get involved
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.
Environmental management
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. The planning and environmental approvals process is currently underway through the relevant Australian and Queensland Government authorities.
Biosecurity
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’.
Renewable Energy Roadmap
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 Climate.