Community Working Group Meeting 1Saturday 25 February Stroud to Lansdowne Transmission Line Project Community Working Group (CWG)

Community Working Group Meeting 1 Saturday 25 February

Stroud to Lansdowne Transmission Line Project

Community Working Group (CWG)


Agenda

Introductions and housekeeping

Project scope, background, need and process

Seeking community input - CWG and member responsibilities

Present Options Selection Report (OSR)

Review corridor options and associated constraints/opportunities

Field visit


Project scope

The proposal includes:

Construction of a single circuit 330 kV transmission line between Stroud Substation and Lansdowne;

Establishment of a new 330 kV substation near Lansdowne, which would initially operate as a 132 kV switching station;

Construction of a double circuit 132 kV transmission line between the proposed Lansdowne Substation and the existing Taree to Port Macquarie 132 kV transmission line;

Establishment of associated access tracks; and

Provision of all ancillary infrastructure and works.


Study area (Figure 1)


Background and need

Significant population growth in the Mid North Coast region over the coming two decades coupled with growth in employment-generating sectors and associated services.

TransGrid’s objective is to develop and maintain the NSW electricity network to provide a safe and reliable supply of electricity.

Population - increase by more than 30,000

people in next decade

Peak summer demand –

expected to rise by approximately 25%

Longer term solution needed – safeguard

region’s electricity supply


Background and need

Essential Energy and TransGrid track and periodically report on forecast growth in electricity demands in the region

Current forecasts predict a future need to augment the electricity network to ensure a safe and reliable supply of electricity

TransGrid has sought alternatives to building new transmission infrastructure, but to date no alternative has been identified that would entirely remove the need for a new transmission line

Current estimates indicate a need for a new Stroud to Lansdowne 132 kV transmission connection in the mid 2010s, with energisation to 330 kV expected in the mid 2020s.


Options Selection Report

Aimed at identifying potential substation site options and transmission line corridor options, and analysing those options based on environmental planning factors

Community consultation will be used to refine options and to inform a decision on a preferred site and corridor

The preferred site and corridor will form the basis of a detailed Environmental Impact Statement, which will be subject to statutory assessment and consultation

Options have been identified with the initial aim of avoiding environmental planning impacts where possible


CWG – Seeking community input

1) Gathering input on OSR, corridor options and substation locations

2) Identify key constraints: environmental; social; and cultural

3) Collect and disseminate information to stakeholders and wider

community

4) Two meetings:

Saturday 25 February 2012 - Review and understand corridor options and provide initial input

Saturday 24 March 2012 - Group discussion of constraints, recommendations and opportunities


Seeking community input

Wider community consultation:

Commences Monday 27 February and closes Monday 26 March 2012

Letters to residents/businesses and key stakeholders

Newspaper advertisements

Media release

Website update

Feedback forms

Submissions received


Member responsibilities

As per Terms of Reference Charter: Attend each meeting (a total of two)

Review meeting minutes

Verbally report to CWG on communication activities and stakeholder concerns

Review and comment on information provided

Provide information to TransGrid on relevant issues concerning your local community/group regarding the OSR/corridor options

Feed information provided back into your local community/group

Only make comments to the media or in public forums on behalf of yourself, not on behalf of the CWG, TransGrid or AECOM


Process

Feb

2012

•Draft OSR and preferred site/ corridor options consultation

Apr 2012

•Finalise OSR

•Identify preferred corridor and substation site

Mid to

late 2012

•EIS preparation

Early

2013

•EIS public exhibition on preferred option

2013

•Pending approval, construction begins

2014

•Completion of construction

We are

here

Community Consultation




Options Selection Report (OSR)

What is the OSR?

The OSR:

identifies potential corridor alignments for transmission line and potential substation sites near Lansdowne;

aims to identify the least environmentally constrained corridor and substation site; and

is being used as the basis for community and stakeholder engagement.

Note: Tabs identify key chapters for consideration


Substation site options

Constraints analysis First principles approach

Consideration of relative benefits and drawbacks of each site option

Three options proposed including an existing site owned by TransGrid

Site identification:area bounded by Taree to south,

Lansdowne to north, the Yarratt State Forest to west and existing Taree to Port

Macquarie transmission line

Site investigations:

Ecology, acoustic modelling and assessment, heritage and land use

Comparative analysis: Assess all potential sites using colour

coding system


Substation site options (Figure 2)

Study area generally limited by topography to the north, urban development to the south, Yarratt State Forest to the west and the desire to avoid sites too far to the east (main northern railway line)

Key constraints within the study area include:

o Land use (Brimbin urban release area)

o Noise generation (residential receivers to the north, east and south)

o Ecology (potentially significant vegetation)

o Some heritage constraints

o Some limitations relating to topography and drainage

Three potential site options have been identified


Substation land use (Figure 9)

Locality is a mix of rural residential zonings, and some environmental protection zonings

Population centres have been avoided.

Rural residential and agricultural pursuits along the Lansdowne River

Proposed Brimbin urban release area has yet to be rezoned, and may offer opportunity for accommodating land use planning outcome


Substation noise (Figure 10)

Basic acoustic modelling used to identify areas where additional noise mitigation may be required (900 metres from residential receivers)

Key noise constraints likely to be towards the north

Potential implications for compatible land uses within the Brimbin release area in future

Additional noise mitigation at the substation or at the affected receiver(s) may be an alternative, depending on which site option is selected


Substation ecology (Figure 11)

An ecological sensitivity analysis mapping process was undertaken to consider potential ecological constraints

The analysis included mapped ecological data such as Endangered Ecological Communities, wetlands and riparian areas, key habitat corridors, threatened fauna habitat

The locality includes some significant ecological constraints, including habitat connectivity issues

Potential cumulative issues with transmission infrastructure connections will need to be taken into account

Area is also recognised as important habitat for several threatened species, and an important population of Red Gum


Substation heritage and watercourses (Figure 12 and 13)

Watercourses and known Aboriginal heritage items have been avoided

Potential for new heritage items to be uncovered, particularly towards the south around drainage lines and Dawson River

Heritage and watercourse constraints could be avoided through careful design


Substation sites evaluation (Table 26)

Substation Site Option 1 Substation Site Option 2 Substation Site Option 3

Impact Category: Land UseLow impacts on existing land use Medium impacts on existing land

useMedium impacts on existing land use

Medium amenity implications for existing receivers

Low amenity implications for existing receivers

Low amenity implications for existing receivers

Low-medium implications for strategic land use planning and future land uses

Medium implications for strategic land use planning and future land uses

Medium-high implications for strategic land use planning and future land uses

Land Use Preference 1 Land Use Preference 2 Land Use Preference 3

Impact Category: Noise High need for noise mitigation Low-medium need for noise

mitigationLow need for noise mitigation

Low potential to affect future land use types in Brimbin urban release area

Medium potential to affect future land use types in Brimbin urban release area

Medium-high potential to affect land use types in Brimbin urban release area

Noise Preference 3 Noise Preference 1 Noise Preference 1

Impact Category: Ecology High level of site clearing Low level of site clearing Low-medium level of site clearingHigh impact on habitat connectivity Low-medium impact on habitat

connectivityLow-medium impact on habitat connectivity

Medium-high potential for impacts associated with transmission line connections into and out of the site

Low-medium potential for impacts associated with transmission line connections into and out of the site

Low medium potential for impacts associated with transmission line connections into and out of the site

Ecology Preference 3 Ecology Preference 1 Ecology Preference 2


Substation sites evaluation (Table 27)

Impact Category Substation Site 1 Substation Site 2 Substation Site 3

Land Use Preference 1 Preference 2 Preference 3

Noise Preference 3 Preference 1 Preference 1

Ecology Preference 3 Preference 1 Preference 2

PREFERENCE RATING ALTERNATIVE 2 LEAST CONSTRAINED ALTERNATIVE 1


Identification of corridor options

First principles approach

Identification of landscape-scale constraints

Develop screening criteria:

Environmental values to be avoided or desirable to avoid

Undertake environmental screen:

Application of screening criteria by desktop analysis

Corridor options identified: Result of constraints tested against screening criteria

Field investigations: “Ground-truthing” along

identified corridor options


Study area defined to generally avoid the coastal zone to the east (Pacific Highway) and based on northern (Lansdowne substation site) and southern (Stroud substation) practical limits. Western limit defined by topography and desire to minimise transmission line length

Key environmental planning constraints include land use, landscape/ visual, ecology, heritage, traffic, soils/ water

Key pinch point in the Taree-Wingham area where corridors have been pushed into the Yarratt State Forest to avoid urban development areas

Corridor options (Figure 3 and Figure 4)


Corridor Option 1 – generally along the existing 132 kV transmission line easement

Corridor Option 1 + 1a – deviation from Corridor Option 1 along The Bucketts Way

Corridor Option 1 + 1b – alternative crossing to the west of Winghman

Corridor Option 1 + 1a + 1b – hybrid option

Corridor Option 2 – western edge of Stroud-Gloucester Valley and north of Wingham

Corridor options (Figures 5-7)


Urban areas and population centres have been avoided through the corridor identification process

Generally rural residential in nature (Figures 14-16)

Some environmental conservation zonings to the south of Gloucester (Figure 15)

Key pinch point around Taree-Wingham corridor, where urban development density increases (Figure 16)

Mining is also a significant constraint through the Stroud-Gloucester Valley (Figures 17 and 18)

Connection through the Brimbin release area will require careful design (Figure 16)

Corridor options land use


Corridor alignments along the existing 132 kV transmission line corridor will minimise visual impacts through co-location, rather than spreading transmission line infrastructure

Landscape character mapping (Figure 20) has been used to identify sensitive landscapes, and those with greater potential to ‘hide’ transmission infrastructure within the landscape

Floodplains (landscape character types 3, 9 and 10) are susceptible to visual impacts as are urban/ rural fringe areas (landscape character type 10)

Crossing ridgelines will require careful design to ensure minimisation of potential visual impacts (landscape character type 7)

Corridor options landscape/ visual


Landscapes such as steep rolling hills (landscape character type 5) and forested hills (landscape character type 11) offer opportunities for ‘hiding’ transmission infrastructure

Concrete/ steel H-frame poles or steel lattice towers will be used for the new power line

Visualisations have been produced to show how H-frame poles and steel lattice towers may look along the corridor options (Appendix A)

Corridor options landscape/ visual


The ecological sensitivity analysis has been mapped across the study area

Where possible, ecological constraints have been avoided through the corridor identification process

The most significant potential ecological impacts are associated with the crossing of the Yarratt State Forest (Figure 23). This is common to all corridor options.

Other pinch points include the crossing of mountain ranges to the east of Belbora (Figure 22) and along the edges of the Stroud-Gloucester Valley (Figure 21)

Corridor options ecology (Figures 21-23)


Most known Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage items have been avoided through the corridor identification process, or could be avoided through careful design of the transmission line within the preferred corridor

The Stroud-Gloucester Valley and Vale of Gloucester (Figures 24 and 25) are indicative listings on the Register of the National Estate

Both listings relate to the heritage landscape and span both heritage and landscape values

All options would affect these listing areas, although potential impacts have been minimised by identifying corridors along the edge of the valley, rather than through it

Corridor options heritage (Figures 24-26)


Killawarra Reserve is also an indicative listing on the Register of the National Estate, but could be avoided through careful transmission line design (Figure 26)

The Hillview property and Bo Bo Creek Cemetery are important European heritage items listed under the Greater Taree local environmental plan (Figure 26), which could also be avoided through careful transmission line design

Corridor options heritage


The study area spans the catchments for the Manning River and Karuah River (Figure 27)

A watercourse sensitivity analysis has been undertaken to consider the potential impacts of crossing watercourses along each corridor option (Figures 28-30)

Watercourse crossings represent both a practical constraint to construction, but also the potential to impact on riparian areas with possible flow on effects for bank stability, erosion and sedimentation

The Manning River crossing near The Bight (Figure 30) is important in terms of potential impacts on watercourse navigation

Corridor options soils and water


Consideration has been given to the number of times each corridor option crossings road, rail and existing power infrastructure

Such crossings may represent practical constraints to construction and potential safety issues that will need to be considered further as part of the detailed design process

Potential impacts on airports and landing strips have been avoided through the corridor identification process

Corridor options traffic, transport and infrastructure


Corridor options evaluation

Please refer to Table 28


Corridor options evaluation (Table 29)

Impact Category Corridor Option 1 Corridor Option 1 + 1a Corridor Option 1 + 1bCorridor Option 1 + 1a + 1b

Corridor Option 2

Land Use Preference 1 Preference 1 Preference 4 Preference 5 Preference 1

Landscape Character and Visual

Preference 2 Preference 1 Preference 3 Preference 4 Preference 5

Ecology Preference 1 Preference 4 Preference 1 Preference 1 Preference 5

Heritage Preference 4 Preference 3 Preference 1 Preference 1 Preference 5

Soil and Water Preference 3 Preference 3 Preference 5 Preference 3 Preference 1

Traffic and Transport Preference 1 Preference 4 Preference 1 Preference 3 Preference 4

PREFERENCE RANKING

LEAST CONSTRAINED ALTERNATIVE 2 ALTERNATIVE 1 ALTERNATIVE 3 ALTERNATIVE 4


Initial feedback

Open discussion


Meeting 2 preparation

We request that you please:

Read the OSR, particularly the marked pages/sections

Watch out for your invitation by mail

Disseminate information provided today to wider groups/communities

Identify other constraints, issues or opportunities to be raised at the next

meeting

Contact the project team if you have any questions –

Phone 1800 222 537 Email [email protected]


What now?

Field visit – reconvene at 1.25pm for 1.30pm departure

Documents

Community Working Group Meeting 1Saturday 25 February Stroud to Lansdowne Transmission Line Project Community Working Group (CWG)