Overview
Powerlink has been engaged by RWE Renewables Australia (RWE) to connect their proposed Theodore Wind Farm Project, located approximately 20km east of Theodore in Central Queensland, to the electricity grid.
The connection project will include building a new double circuit 275kV transmission line from the Castle Creek Substation within the Theodore Wind Farm, to the proposed future Powerlink substation at Mt Benn near Banana (which forms part of the Banana Range Wind Farm Connection Project - currently in the planning phase).
The Theodore Wind Farm Project is a renewable energy development planned by RWE. Visit the RWE website for further information about the wind farm.
Powerlink's Role
Powerlink owns, develops, operates and maintains the high voltage electricity transmission network in Queensland. We also provide electricity transmission services, including connecting large electricity generators, to the transmission network.
Powerlink will select and finalise the location for a new 275kV transmission line corridor and easement alignment, seek required approvals, and build and maintain the line if it is approved.
Status
PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVALS
Federal Government environmental approval
On 14 October 2025, Powerlink referred the project to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) for assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act). The EPBC Act is Australia’s national environmental legislation. It protects and manages Australia’s ‘nationally significant’ animals, plants, habitats and places.
The public consultation period is now open for public comment via the DCCEEW EPBC Public Portal. Search for ‘Theodore Wind Farm Connection Project’ or use the referral number 2025/10328. The public comment period is open until 5 November 2025.
State Government planning approvals
Powerlink is seeking planning approval from the Queensland Government, under the Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) process. This process is managed by the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning (DSDIP) with input from other government agencies.
In Q4 2025, Powerlink will lodge a MID application with DSDIP. DSDIP will consider the application and, when ready, initiate a formal 20 business day public consultation period.
Once DSDIP has commenced consultation, Powerlink will also undertake public consultation on the MID Proposal Report. The period for Powerlink’s public consultation is a minimum of 20 business days.
CASTLE CREEK SUBSTATION
As part of the Theodore Wind Farm Connection Project, Powerlink will also seek the necessary planning and environmental approvals for the design and construction of a substation within the wind farm boundary, referred to as the Castle Creek Substation.
CORRIDOR SELECTION ACTIVITIES
In October 2024, Powerlink released a Draft Corridor Selection Report (CSR) that identified a recommended corridor for the transmission line – building on RWE’s initial planning activities and assessments carried out.
Landholders, Traditional Owner groups, the community and other stakeholders were invited to provide feedback on the Draft CSR over a five-week consultation period.
Community information drop-in sessions were held in Biloela, Theodore and Banana in November 2024, where the community had the opportunity to meet our project team, ask questions and provide feedback.
Following consideration of feedback received and further technical analysis, we prepared the Final CSR in February 2025. Feedback received resulted in two changes being adopted to the 1km-wide recommended corridor.
You can view the Draft and Final CSRs on this webpage for more detail on our corridor selection process.
Following the release of the Final CSR, our Landholder Relations Team has continued to engage with directly affected landholders to progress environmental surveys and other on-site investigations, to enable the refinement of the final 1km-wide corridor to an easement alignment width of approximately 60m.
Get involved
Throughout the planning and development of our projects, Powerlink is committed to ongoing genuine and timely engagement to ensure we deliver outcomes for landholders, Traditional Owner groups, local communities and other stakeholders that enable co-existence with current and future land uses.
If you have any questions about the Theodore Wind Farm Connection Project, please contact us via:
Landholders along the final corridor are also invited to contact their Landholder Relations Advisor directly. Please refer to contact details on the right of this page.
