To meet forecast long-term electricity demand in South East Queensland, Powerlink is planning to construct a 500kV transmission network in Southern Queensland. The network upgrade will include the construction of new transmission lines and the expansion of two existing substations which will transfer electricity generated in South Western Queensland to the South East Queensland region. Easements for the future 500kV transmission lines have been progressively acquired over the past 20 years, and in some locations, easements are still being finalised. Powerlink has been acquiring easements strategically, well in advance of construction, in order to provide land use certainty for the community into the future.
The introduction of a 500kV transmission network is the most efficicent way to meet long-term future demand for electricity: one 500kV transmission line is capable of carrying about the same amount of electricity as three of the current (275kV) transmission lines, and thus requires much less land. Building 500kV transmission lines will help significantly reduce the number of new easements and lines needed in the future, and make the best possible use of available land. Significant elements of this network upgrade have been identified in relevant public State Government infrastructure plans for a number of years.
The proposed 500kV transmission network is part of Powerlink's overall future plan to meet the long-term electricity demands of South-East Queensland. Based on recent electricity demand growth figures, the first 500kV trasmission line between Halys to Blackwall via Springdale is expected to be required around 2018/19. Powerlink regularly reviews the need and timing of its projects to ensure projects are not delivered too early or too late to meet network reliability requirements and are delivered at the lowest long-run cost to consumers.