NWTD Notified Corridor amended

In mid-2023 TasNetworks undertook the required steps to register a notified corridor for the proposed alignment of the North West Transmission Developments (NWTD) in accordance with the Major Infrastructure Development Approvals Act 1999 (MIDAA).

The MIDAA process requires that a notified corridor must be in place before TasNetworks can submit a Development Application and Environmental Impact Statement for assessment of the NWTD. The notified corridor was made by the Minister for Planning at TasNetworks’ request.

Following the announcement by the Australian and Tasmanian Governments that Marinus Link will, in the first instance, proceed with one cable, the overall scope of the North West Transmission Developments was revised to be delivered in two stages. Stage one will focus on the Palmerston (Cressy) to Burnie via Sheffield, and Stowport to Heybridge sections to align with the delivery of the first Marinus Link cable. The balance of the project, which includes the sections between Hampshire Hills to Burnie, and Staverton to Hampshire Hills will be constructed as part of stage two.

As a result of these decisions, it is now necessary to retain the existing 220kV line between Sheffield and Burnie during construction to avoid the risk of outages. It is still the case that the existing 220kV line between Sheffield and Burnie will be removed post-construction. To allow the new 220kV line to be installed while the existing one is in place, the proposed alignment of the new transmission line and location of towers has been adjusted in several locations. Other adjustments have also been made following discussions with landholders and ongoing work. This has meant that the notified corridor needed to be adjusted and, in some areas, widened.

The existing notified corridor between Hampshire Hills and Burnie is being amended in some locations to provide greater flexibility as we progress field investigations and further discussions with landholders.

TasNetworks recently requested that the Minister for Planning amend the notified corridor to allow for these adjustments.