Staverton to Hampshire Hills field study findings help shape route and protect the environment

The Staverton to Hampshire Hills proposed transmission line is an important link in TasNetworks’ North West Transmission Developments that will enable Tasmania to double its clean energy capability and power up investment in Tasmania’s north-west.

TasNetworks released a proposed route in November 2019, and after further desktop analysis and considering community and landowner feedback the proposed route was refined with a preferred route identified and released in August 2020.

As part of the environment, planning and heritage assessment process, TasNetworks undertook studies along the preferred route to understand any potential impacts the project may have on the environment and local communities. The field surveys identified some significant geological and ecological features.

Specifically, the results of the field studies and geotechnical drilling have shown that a section of the transmission line, around 10km, is located on land that is prone to landslides, could result in impacts to the karst and cave systems as well as areas of native rainforest.

Based on these findings, it is necessary to realign a section of the preferred route further to the south to avoid these areas.

TasNetworks acknowledges that realigning this section of the transmission line will bring the line closer to a small number of additional properties and will be working closely with these landowners to understand any concerns that arise and examine ways to minimise impacts.

Further field studies along the revised route will be required to inform and finalise the environmental, planning and heritage assessment process. The studies will commence in December 2021 and take up to six months to complete.