Major Infrastructure Development Approvals (North West Transmission Upgrades Project) Order 2020

What's new?

The North West Transmission Upgrades Project was declared a major infrastructure project by an Order under the Major Infrastructure Development Approvals Act 1999 in 2020.

TasNetworks has lodged plans of the proposed corridor for the project and the Minister has given notice to land owners, affected councils and the Tasmanian Planning Commission.

More information: TasNetworks website - North West Transmission Developments

Project Description

TasNetworks is proposing an upgrade to the electricity transmission network within a corridor in the north west of Tasmania.

The project consists of the following:

  • A high voltage (220Kv) power line from Palmerston to Sheffield, Sheffield to Burnie via a spur line to Heybridge, Burnie to East Cam, East Cam to Hampshire and Hampshire to Staverton.
  • Two substations at Hampshire and Staverton.
  • Ten sites at Hampshire, Nietta and South Nietta, Burnie, Deloraine, Devonport, Guildford, Gowrie Park, Palmerston and Sheffield that will provide concrete batching plants, site offices and storage areas during construction.
  • Any necessary ancillary development, such as access tracks, concrete batching, communications systems, conductor winching and braking sites, construction camps, site offices and storage areas.

The proposal is subject to an assessment by the Tasmanian Planning Commission

The Minister has given notice to land owners, affected councils and the Tasmanian Planning Commission of the proposed corridor for the project.

The plans for the proposed corridor and further information on the project can be viewed on the TasNetworks website

Project Orders

Under section 7(2) of the Major Infrastructure Development Approvals Act 1999 the Governor made the Order. The Order provides for the project to be assessed as a combined development application. The Order was approved by both houses of Parliament in 2020.

The Minister issued a second Order in 2021, to clarify the assessment time for the Tasmanian Planning Commission, which is 30 days upon receipt of a notification from the Commonwealth in relation to their assessment under the Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 that they are satisfied with the proponents environmental report.

In 2022, the Governor issued an amendment to the 2020 Order, which removed 2 locations for potential substations, as these locations were identified by TasNetworks as being surplus to the project requirements.

In 2023, the Governor issued an amendment to the 2020 Order, which enables additional locations to be used for ancillary activities to aid the construction of the transmission line. These activities could include concrete batching plants, offices or storage areas.

Order Documents

More information

What happens next?

North West Transmission Line Timeline