Easement acquisition and transmission line construction
On this page:
What's an easement?
Easements provide Powerlink with a legal ‘right of way’ over a portion of land, so we can safely build, operate and maintain our transmission lines.
Our easements are registered on the title of the affected land, but ownership of the land remains with the landowner. This means the landowner may use the land for many purposes, provided it doesn’t conflict with easement conditions.
Easements are acquired following a processn which includes route planning, environmental studies and community consultation. The purpose of easements is to control activities near a transmission line to ensure public safety and the security of line operation or electricity supply.
The width of an easement is determined by factors including the voltage, the swing of the conductors (due to wind) and the need for a safety clearance zone outside the conductors.
If you want to carry out an activity on a Powerlink easement, and aren’t sure if it’s allowed— simply call us during office hours on 1800 635 369. We’ll discuss your proposal and advise the next step. This may include making a co-use request using our online form.
Acquisition and transmission line construction
Most Powerlink projects broadly follow the steps outlined below. However, the timing for each step in this process is unique to each project and the construction of the transmission line (or other network equipment) can depend on factors such as:
- how quickly the relevant electricity demand is increasing
- the operating pattern of relevant power generation facilities
- the availability of non-network solutions to defer the need for increased transmission capacity
- new high-usage customers in an area (for example, an aluminium smelter or mine)
- other network changes (such as the connection of a new electricity generating source to the network).
Given these factors, it’s often difficult to estimate the exact timeframe for construction of a project.
The process
Powerlink generally follows the following process for easement acquisition and construction:
- Planning for future electricity demand. We identify areas within our network which need to be expanded or reinforced to meet electricity demand.
- Initial Powerlink assessment. If a new transmission line is considered to be a cost-effective solution, a corridor is identified for detailed investigation.
- Initial community involvement. Landowners and interested stakeholders within the Study Corridor are consulted, and matters specific to them are identified. Government agencies and other stakeholders are also given an opportunity to identify matters important to them to be considered in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
- Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and feedback on Draft EIS. The specialist environmental consultant prepares a Draft EIS based on technical studies and consultation with stakeholders. The Draft EIS is then made publically available for further feedback.
- Final EIS is released to the community. All feedback is collected and addressed, and the specialist environmental consultant prepares the Final EIS. This Final EIS forms the basis for our decision to proceed with the easement acquisition and planning approval.
- Planning approvals. Following survey of the easement, Powerlink seeks Ministerial approval for the designation of the transmission line route for community infrastructure under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009.
- Easement acquisition. We acquire the easement as per the Acquisition of Land Act 1967.
- Compensation. Powerlink pays compensation to the landowner for the easement it has acquired at fair market value and in accordance with Powerlink's compensation policy. Construction of the line may start before compensation is finalised.
- Construction of the transmission line. The timing of this stage depends on a number of factors, including the growth of electricity demand.
See also: