Kamerunga to Woree Replacement Project

Overview

Powerlink’s Kamerunga Substation and the transmission line between the Kamerunga and Woree substations are critical components of the transmission network that supplies power to northern Cairns.  

Both the substation and transmission line are now nearing the end of their technical service life and must be replaced to ensure a safe, secure and reliable electricity supply into the future. 

Project background

Kamerunga substation

Located 10km north-west of Cairns CBD, Kamerunga Substation was first established in the 1970s. Equipment at Kamerunga Substation is nearing the end of technical service life and will need to be replaced.  

Kamerunga to Woree transmission line

The Kamerunga to Woree 132 kilovolt (kV) transmission line provides the critical service of connecting the Barron Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station to the transmission network and supplying power to northern Cairns. This line has been in operation since the 1960s, and a replacement line will need to be constructed.  

Powerlink standards require an easement for an overhead 132kV transmission line to be around 30-40 metres wide. When the Kamerunga to Woree line was built, industry standards at the time required the easement to be 20m wide. As standards evolve over time, we now require a wider easement to enable the continued safe, secure and reliable operation of the transmission line.  

To ensure continuous electricity supply to the area, we must maintain the existing line while constructing a new replacement transmission line. Where possible, we have positioned the recommended corridor for the new infrastructure adjacent to the existing line. 

There has been significant residential development adjacent to the line between Redlynch to Woree meaning that we are unable to widen the existing easement through this area. Therefore, the decision has been made to underground this component of the line along a new corridor.

Status

Project investigations

Powerlink has undertaken a range of activities to investigate the development of substation and transmission line replacement options.  

In early 2019 discussions with relevant landholders commenced to inform the planning of a new corridor for the overhead transmission line from Kamerunga to Redlynch. Planning for the Kamerunga to Redlynch overhead line replacement project was paused in early 2020, to allow for additional investigations into options for the Redlynch to Woree line replacement and identification of requirements for a new substation. 

Due to various constraints in the area, Powerlink has identified this project requires both an overhead and underground infrastructure solution.  The replacement segments are: 

• a replacement overhead line between Kamerunga to Redlynch 
• an underground transmission cable, situated in a new corridor, between Redlynch to Woree to replace the current overhead transmission line. 
• a new substation in Barron to replace the existing Kamerunga Substation. 

Through detailed desktop and field investigations, Powerlink has developed a recommended corridor for further investigation and refinement.  

New substation in Barron 

The existing Kamerunga Substation, located in Caravonica, is nearing the end of its technical service life. 

The recommended substation replacement site is a Powerlink-owned parcel of land off Cairns West Arterial Road, approximately 600m from the existing substation location. The parcel of land was purchased in 2021 to account for anticipated future transmission network requirements.  

New transmission line 

Kamerunga to Redlynch – overhead line 

The existing Kamerunga Substation connects the Barron Gorge to Cairns transmission line from the Barron Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station to the existing Kamerunga to Woree line.  

The proposed overhead transmission corridor will include a connection to the Barron Gorge to Cairns line from a point at the existing Kamerunga Substation site to the new substation in Barron. The corridor will then proceed to the Redlynch masterplan area.  

The new corridor is directly adjacent to and east of the existing line and is mainly located on primary industry and industrial land, as well as State and Local Government owned land.  

Redlynch to Woree – underground cable 

Significant residential development since the overhead transmission line was first established, has meant the construction of a new overhead line from Redlynch to the Woree Substation is not feasible. Alternative overhead line routes would also pose significant impacts to residential areas. 

As a result, Powerlink is proposing to transition from an overhead transmission line via a transition point at Redlynch to a 10.4km underground cable to Woree Substation.  

The underground cable will follow a different corridor to the existing overhead line and will be largely located in Council and State-owned roads. No residential land or easements on private property will be required to construct the underground cable. 

From Redlynch, the proposed underground corridor will run under Freshwater Creek and through Goomboora Park before continuing through roads, footpaths and verges to the Woree Substation.  

Project approvals 

Ministerial Infrastructure Designation 

A comprehensive Environmental Assessment Report (EAR) will be prepared to assess the social, environmental and economic impacts of the project. This report is expected to be released for public consultation in mid-2025.  

A key component of project planning leading into the EAR is the Draft Corridor and Site Selection Report that is now available for comment on our project website under our Reports tab. This report outlines the work undertaken to identify the recommended corridor for both the replacement overhead transmission line and underground cable, and a recommended site for the new substation.   

Following preliminary engagement on the Draft Corridor and Site Selection Report, Powerlink will progress finalising the corridor that will be put to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Planning for a Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) to provide planning approvals for delivery of the new substation and transmission line as a single program of works. 

A MID can be used to deliver certain types of community-supporting infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, police/ambulance/fire stations, sporting facilities, power lines, water supply infrastructure and sewerage treatment plants.  

Have your say 

Feedback on the Draft Corridor and Site Selection Report closed at 5pm Wednesday 30 October 2024. If you missed the opportunity to ‘have your say’ on the report, feedback on the project is still welcome and can be provided via our project email and contact number. 

Community information drop-in sessions 

Community information drop-in sessions were recently hosted in locations along the recommended corridor to discuss the proposed project with landholders, Traditional Owner groups, residents and the wider community. 

As the project progresses, additional information sessions will be held, with details of the sessions to be shared on this webpage and other communication channels. 

Interactive Map

To view the Kamerunga to Woree proposed corridor, please use our interactive mapping tool below. 

VIEW THE INTERACTIVE MAP 

Next Steps

Review of feedback received  

Following our period of preliminary community and stakeholder engagement, all input received is being reviewed by our project team.  Feedback helps to provide specific, on-ground information that informs our decisions regarding the most appropriate location of this infrastructure. 

Where appropriate, this feedback will be used to inform any changes to the recommended corridor and guide next steps in our planning approvals process.  

Maintenance works on existing Kamerunga Substation 

Powerlink will need to complete scheduled maintenance on the existing Kamerunga Substation later in 2024. The project will include replacement of circuit breakers as well as minor civil works and will largely remain within the substation site.  

During that time residents may notice increased heavy vehicle movements to and from the site as well as possible night works. Residents around the substation will be provided with more information on the works and potential impacts, closer to the start of works.  

Geotechnical investigations 

Planning for underground infrastructure requires geotechnical testing to obtain an understanding of ground conditions and confirm locations of existing infrastructure such as water, sewage and telecommunications.  

A program of geotechnical testing will be carried out at selected locations along the recommended corridor over a period of two to three months. Once timing of these works is confirmed, Powerlink will contact residents near testing sites to provide information on the work and discuss any immediate impacts. Broader notifications to the wider community will also be conducted prior to the start of testing.