In August 2008 Western Power adopted a fresh approach to the Eastern Terminal project. The project was announced as Powering Perth's Communities (PPC), reflecting that the project would deliver benefits to the entire Perth community, including the Hills area.
Two critical objectives of the PPC project were identified to ensure sufficient power was available in the network and that the security of the network was not compromised.
The PPC project means a more secure power supply for Perth's communities, including our hospitals, schools, businesses and your home.
Two distinct phases of the PPC project were defined, reflecting these two objectives.
Phase I planning is now complete. Phase I involved working with a Focus Group to evaluate a range of tie-in options, taking into account a environmental, technical and visual considerations. This evaluation led to the decision to tie in the new line via a gantry at Hacketts Gully.
Construction on the new line between Wells Terminal and Hacketts Gully will commence at the southern end in late 2009, with the tie-in works in Hacketts Gully scheduled to be completed in late 2011.
Phase II will involve identifying an appropriate switchyard solution by the end of 2012.
As part of the commitment made by Western Power General Manager, Mark de Laeter at a meeting with the Shire of Kalamunda, Western Power has adopted a fresh approach to the Eastern Terminal project.
After a comprehensive internal review, including network planning requirements, a new approach to the project has been defined. The new project will be known as Powering Perth's Communities (PPC), reflecting that this project will deliver benefits to the entire Perth community, including the Hills area.
The 'fresh approach' will include the involvement of the broader community in developing a solution that will allow all of Perth metropolitan area, including Perth Hills, to benefit from a reinforced electricity network in the future.
Congratulations to the community members who have nominated to participate in Phase I of the Powering Perth's Communities project.
Western Power would like to thank all community members who nominated to participate in Phase I. The PPC team is looking forward to working with the Focus Group to review and evaluate Phase I tie-in options to identify the most sustainable overall option.
For more information about the tie-in options that will be discussed during the Focus Group workshop, download the Options Paper here. (2.5mb - large file)
If you would like to provide comments on the Options Paper, please send them to:
email: ppc@westernpower.com.au
or
PPC Team
GPO Box L921
Perth WA 6842
Photomontages illustrating how each option could look are currently being prepared. These will be made available to download prior to the Focus Group workshop.
Community Interest Group presentations
The following Community Interest Groups presented during the November 29 Phase I workshop:
The role of the Community Interest Groups was to make a short presentation to the Focus Group regarding their organisation's values.
Community Focus Group outcomes
Western Power would like to thank all community members and interest groups who attended the PPC Focus Group workshop on 29 November 2008.
A document summarising the workshop, which includes comments and feedback, is currently being prepared. It will be made available, along with interest group presentations as soon as possible.
All information presented and discussed during the November 2008 workshop is now available and can be found in the 'downloads' section on this page.
Western Power announces the tie-in option
Western Power would like to announce that Option 1, which involves installing a gantry and extra single pole at the intersection of Mundaring Weir and Bahen Roads in Hacketts Gully, will be used to link a new major power line to the existing grid.
In coming to this decision, Western Power considered the social, environmental, technical and economic issues as well as the recommendations from the Focus Group meeting held in November 2008. The decision is discussed in detail in the 'Powering Perth's Communities Phase I - Outcomes Summary' document (available for download below).
The Focus Group, while not endorsing the project, confirmed that it preferred two possible options for connecting the lines. These were Option 6A and Option 1, with preference for Option 6A. The two options are the same except that an existing tower would be replaced with a similar height pole in Option 6A.
When reviewing the two options comparatively Western Power found that Option 6A had a greater impact with regard to safety, cost, risk to power supplies, risk of traffic interruption during work and land clearing. For these reasons Western Power determined that Option 1 was the preferred tie-in solution.
In addition to the community consultation, Western Power will be submitting Regulatory Test and New Facilities Investment Test (NFIT) applications for determination by the Economic Regulatory Authority (ERA) for this project. These tests consider the technical and economic implications of a number of alternatives to ensure that the most economically efficient alternative is adopted. The applications will be based on the South West 330 kV Bulk Transmission Reinforcement - Discussion Paper and will consider submissions made to Western Power forthcoming from our Invitation for submissions - Proposed 330 kV South West Transmission Reinforcement which was open for industry comment from 17 December 2008 to 9 January 2009.
An environmental and social review of the transmission line routes associated with the two main transmission line route alternatives outlined in this discussion paper has also been undertaken (available for download below).
Subject to Regulatory Test and NFIT approval, the next stage in this project will be the construction of the new transmission line between Wells Terminal and Hacketts Gully which is planned to commence in late 2009, at the southern end, with the tie-in works in Hacketts Gully scheduled to be completed in late 2011.
In addition, Western Power will begin consulting with the wider Perth community on Phase II of the PPC project to examine ways to connect the new line into a new or existing switchyard when required in the future.
For more information please contact ppc@westernpower.com.au or call (08) 9326 4007
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Page update on 2 April 2009
