Burdekin River Pump Station Connection Project

Overview

Powerlink has been engaged by Townsville City Council to deliver a new substation and 132kV electricity transmission line to connect the Burdekin River Pump Station associated with the Haughton Pipeline Stage 2 Project to the transmission network.  

The Haughton Pipeline Stage 2 Project will connect and extend the existing Stage 1 Pipeline from the Haughton River to the Burdekin River near Clare. Visit Haughton Pipeline Project - Townsville City Council for more information.  

Status

Powerlink has now received planning approval for the project via the Queensland Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning under the Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) process. This process was managed by the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning (DSDIP) with input from other government agencies.

The project’s MID request (MID-0324-0833) was approved on 21 September 2025 and took effect from 26 September 2025. 

The MID Decision Notice and Gazette Notice is available to view on this webpage under ‘Resources’. It is also available to view on DSDIP’s webpage.

Project timings  

Pipeline installation works for the Haughton Pipeline Stage 2 Project are continuing as Townsville City Council explores options for a low-cost, secure water supply for the Townsville region. 

Townsville City Council is working with state funding partners and while discussions about options continue, Powerlink’s work on the Burdekin River Pump Station Connection Project is on hold. 

Impacted landholders, the Traditional Owner group, the community and other stakeholders will be kept updated on the Burdekin River Pump Station Connection Project and timings. 

Powerlink remains committed to working with Townsville City Council to deliver the future connection of the Haughton Pipeline Stage 2 Project to the transmission network.  

Background information 

In December 2023, we commenced preliminary engagement with impacted landholders, the Traditional Owner group, the community and other stakeholders to ensure anyone with an interest in the project had an opportunity to provide initial feedback before the MID Proposal was lodged.   

In March 2024, the project’s MID Proposal was formally lodged with the former Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works. The MID Proposal was prepared to identify and assess the social, environmental and economic impacts of the project. It also provided recommendations on how potential impacts are to be managed.   

In June 2024, the former Minister for Housing, Local Government and Planning and Minister for Public Works initiated consultation by writing to the local government and impacted landholders to invite submissions on the MID Proposal.  

Additionally, Powerlink consulted with impacted landholders, the local Traditional Owner group, the community and other stakeholders on this report. The project had a 20-business day public consultation period which ended on 31 July 2024.  

Get involved

For more information on the Burdekin River Pump Station Connection Project, please contact our project team on 07 4034 7600 or [email protected].