Genex Kidston Connection Project

Overview

Powerlink has been engaged by Genex Power Limited (Genex) to deliver a 275kV electricity transmission line and two associated switching stations to connect Genex's renewable energy generation project at Kidston to the national electricity grid.

The Kidston Clean Energy Hub includes establishing a combination pumped storage hydro, solar and wind power generation facility at Kidston, approximately 270km north-west of Townsville. Visit www.genexpower.com.au for more information.

Status

Construction PROGRESS

The unexpectedly longer wet season this year meant a lull in construction as crews were unable to head out to site due to unsuitable construction conditions.  

Our project team is now making the most of the recent drier conditions with construction ramping up over the last few months.  

Work on tower foundations is nearing completion with over 325 of the 348 foundations completed at the end of June 2024.  

Tower assembly and erection is also progressing well, with around 164 towers erected along the 186km line.  

Tower installation progress along the 186km alignment is well underway and expected to reach completion by September 2024. The final section of vegetation clearing works is also nearly complete.  

More than 50km of transmission line has been strung including a 13.5km section strung by drone.  

Works on the switching stations are nearing completion with Guybal Munjan Switching Station now connected to Powerlink’s transmission network.  

The Aurumfield Switching Station has reached practical completion, and site acceptance testing and commissioning is currently on track to commence in Q4 2024. 

Drone stringing 

The 186km Genex Kidston Connection Project transmission line includes 50km of drone strung line, making this the largest drone stringing in a single project in the Asia Pacific region. 

While line stringing is generally done by helicopters or ground crews, drone stringing is an emerging technology that gets the job done quickly and is less intrusive for landholders.  

To deliver this work, Powerlink partnered with Infravision, a Queensland based company. Infravision has developed a drone and software technology system that can be used to install and upgrade overhead powerlines.  

Site visit 

Members of Powerlink’s team including Executive General Manager Delivery and Technical Solutions Sarah Huang had the opportunity to see the works first-hand during a recent project site visit.  

While on-site, the team were able to drive the alignment and check out the progress made on the transmission line and switching station construction as well as to catch helicopter stringing works in action.  

The visit also included a trip to the Genex Pumped Storage Hydro Project site at Kidston and a catch-up with Hinchinbrook Shire Council Deputy Mayor, Cr Mary Brown.    

Traditional owners

To acknowledge local Traditional Owners, we sought the advice of the Gugu Badhun Aboriginal Corporation (GBAC) to nominate a name for the switching station at Mount Fox. The name Guybal Munjan was selected, which means ‘fire mountain’ in local language, and is pronounced ‘guy-bel moo-wun’.  

We appreciate the opportunity to work alongside Traditional Owners to determine this name and are pleased to advise that a formal agreement between Powerlink and GBAC for the respectful use of the Guybal Munjan name has been reached. To mark this milestone, the GBAC has provided the below notice:

The Gugu Badhun People are the Traditional Owners, Custodians and Native Title holders of country around the upper reaches of the Burdekin River, areas north of the Clark River and areas out to the Great Dividing Range, on country surrounding the Township of Greenvale.

We are connected to each other through family connections, relationships, kinship, blood lines and spirits of our ancestors and elders. Our connectedness is to the land and waters; plants and animals; the seasons; the sun, moon and stars; and all things which make up the living environment such as the air we breathe. Our ancestors used stones, shells, sticks and bones as tools to support their existence.

Our relatedness, the connection within and between the Gugu Badhun People and all parts of the environment must be maintained for harmony to exist. We, as Gugu Badhun People, Traditional Owners and Custodians have responsibilities to ensure that this happens by passing on our stories, history, culture and language, maintaining lore, performing ceremonies and rituals, and protecting and proactively caring for our country.

Gugu Badhun People have clear priorities for our culture and country. Recognition of our custodianship and connection to country; maintenance, protection and preservation of our culture and community; establishment and maintenance of our physical, spiritual, and cultural wellbeing; engagement in economic and other opportunities through innovation and effective partnerships and self-determination are key to our responsibilities as Gugu Badhun people both for our past and for our future. 

Working with the local community

We welcome the opportunity to meet with you in person to discuss and listen to your feedback at any time.

You can contact us on 1800 635 369 or via email at [email protected]

Local supplier opportunities

Powerlink has been working with principal contractor UGL to maximise local employment and procurement opportunities wherever possible for this project. 

Sub-contracting opportunities on the project have included vegetation and access works, machine and equipment hire, cleaning services, waste management and recycling, and much more. 

To date we have engaged more than 25 local suppliers, with local contracts valued at more than $30 million.  

Community Investment

Powerlink’s community investment activities are aimed at supporting initiatives and projects that focus on creating sustainable communities and assist within economic development, enhance community and social capacity, build resilience and create positive legacies.    

More than $151,638 in community investment funding has been committed so far by the Genex Kidston Connection Project across the Charters Towers, Etheridge and Hinchinbrook local government areas including:  

• Supporting a Tropical North Showjumping Super Clinic in Ingham 
• Donation of multiple items including a Kings portable fridge for auction at the annual Oak Park Races in North-West Queensland    
• Refurbishment of the Greenvale Seniors Club which began in late November 2023 and involves suppliers from Charters Towers and Townsville  
• Donation of Starlink Satellite Hardware and UHF Radio for auction at the Georgetown School P&C Fundraiser to raise money for a mini-bus to assist with transportation of residents at the Georgetown Independent Living Facility 
• Supporting the Einasleigh Progress Association to construct a cricket pitch in Einasleigh. Once built, the new pitch and other supporting infrastructure will also provide opportunities for social functions throughout the year 
• Funding to provide paramedic support during the 2024 Greenvale Campdraft and Challenge event 
• Supporting a four day training course in operating agricultural machinery to prepare trainees for the 26-week cane harvesting season.  

Hinchinbrook Shire’s ‘Get Out, Get Active and Connect’ 

Powerlink’s Genex Kidston Connection Project was a proud supporter of Hinchinbrook Shire Council’s ‘Get Out, Get Active and Connect’ event. Aimed at promoting an active lifestyle, mental health and wellbeing, and community connectivity within the Hinchinbrook Shire, the event attracted about 1,500 attendees.  

Key highlights included a moving speech on mental health by special guest speaker Greg Inglis, a rugby league legend and mental health advocate.  

Greg now runs Goanna Academy, the first accredited and Indigenous-owned mental health education provider in Australia. Goanna Academy’s mission is to help end the stigma surrounding mental health and improve social capacity to identify, talk about and manage mental health for all Australians. 

For more information about Powerlink’s community investment activities, please contact [email protected] or visit our community investment page.    

Project background

Federal environmental approvals

In October 2022, Powerlink was awarded Federal environmental approvals for the Genex Kidston Connection Project – Matters of National Environmental Significance under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999.

Following the identification of some species and potential habitat listed under the EPBC Act in the vicinity of the proposed transmission line alignment for the Genex Kidston Connection Project, Powerlink referred the project to the former Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DoAWE) for assessment to ensure our activities can be delivered in a way that effectively minimises environmental impacts. The initial public consultation period occurred in October 2021 for Powerlink’s referral of this project to DoAWE. We invited landholders, the community and other stakeholders to provide comments on the project and Powerlink’s referral for consideration under the EPBC Act. At the end of this consultation period, DoAWE classified the project as a ‘Controlled Action’, which meant the project required Commonwealth approval under the EPBC Act.

To progress with these approvals, Powerlink prepared a report further examining environmental considerations and mitigation measures associated with the project. Under provisions of the EPBC Act, this report - called ‘Draft Preliminary Documentation’ - was released for public comment in May/June 2022. This document is available on this project webpage. 

Following a review of submissions received, Powerlink prepared the ‘Final Preliminary Documentation’ report. This report includes a summary of the key items raised in the submissions and provides responses to these key items. This information is presented in a new section within the Final Preliminary Documentation (Section 10). The Final Preliminary Documentation is available on this webpage. 

Ministerial Infrastructure Designation Assessment Report 

The Ministerial Infrastructure Designation Assessment Report (MIDAR) for the Genex Kidston Connection Project was released in November 2021 for public review and comment. The report was submitted to the Queensland Government’s Planning Minister for approval under the Planning Act 2016. A copy of the MIDAR is available on this webpage. 

The MIDAR identifies the potential environmental, economic and social impacts of the project, and how those impacts can be mitigated or managed. It concludes that, based on the studies undertaken to date, provided Powerlink implements the recommendations outlined in the report and associated Environmental Management Plans, there are no social, environmental or economic factors that prevent the connection project from proceeding.

The MIDAR was prepared following extensive engagement with landholders, the community and other stakeholders, environmental and technical assessments, and a comprehensive review of the project’s Draft Environmental Assessment Report (EAR) which was released in September 2018.

NOTICE TO PROCEED

Following execution of a Connection and Access Agreement in March 2021, Powerlink received the project’s 'Notice to Proceed'. This signalled the re-commencement of activities to formally progress the connection project, which includes working with landholders and other stakeholders to finalise a range of planning approval processes. Powerlink reactivated project planning activities, including engaging with landholders and other stakeholders about next steps, and undertaking remaining technical, environmental and cultural heritage assessment work.

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REPORT (EAR)

The Draft EAR for the Genex Kidston Connection Project was released in September 2018, as part of the process to seek planning approval at that time under the Planning Act 2016. The report was developed following comprehensive engagement with landholders and other stakeholders at the time to understand likely property impacts and identify mitigation measures, as well as undertaking environmental and technical assessments. It concluded that, based on the studies undertaken to date, provided Powerlink implements the recommendations outlined in the Draft EAR and associated Draft Environmental Management Plans, there are no social, environmental or economic factors that would prevent the connection project from proceeding. The public consultation period for the Draft EAR concluded in November 2018. A copy of the Draft EAR is available on this webpage.