Hon. Kate Doust questions the Minister for Energy on the Barnett government's commitment to the 330-kilovolt line to Geraldton, approved by the previous Labor government, and its impact on the Oakajee port project. The Minister acknowledges the line's importance but cannot guarantee funding due to budgetary considerations and pending ERA recommendations.

AnsweredQoN 378Legislative Council
Asked
9 April 2009
Portfolio
Energy

QuestionView source ↗

ENERGY — 330-KILOVOLT LINE TO GERALDTON
(1) Can the minister assure the house that the 330-kilovolt line to Geraldton, which was approved by the Labor government, has its funding guaranteed by the Barnett government and will be built on schedule? (2) Can the minister assure the house that the timely delivery of the 330-kilovolt line will be given such priority that there is no possible interference with the proper planning and construction of the Oakajee port and industrial precinct? Hon PETER COLLIER

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am very aware of the significance of the 330-kilovolt line to not just Oakajee, but also the whole mid-west area, particularly for the Gindalbie project et cetera. Therefore, I am very conscious of the significance of that line. At this stage I cannot guarantee anything, because it is all part of the budgetary considerations. However, I add that the 330-kilovolt line was included by Western Power in its submission through access agreement 2. That, of course, is still under consideration by the Economic Regulation Authority. Ideally, the ERA’s recommendations from AA2 should have come down early this year. That is no longer going to happen. As I understand it, it will probably be closer to October, which is a little problematic in making determinations of funding. I repeat that I am aware of the significance of the 330kv line. It is part of the budgetary considerations, but the bigger picture is where it stands in relation to the ERA’s recommendations on AA2. It is a work in progress and we will have to wait and see.
(2) Can the minister assure the house that the timely delivery of the 330-kilovolt line will be given such priority that there is no possible interference with the proper planning and construction of the Oakajee port and industrial precinct? Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am very aware of the significance of the 330-kilovolt line to not just Oakajee, but also the whole mid-west area, particularly for the Gindalbie project et cetera. Therefore, I am very conscious of the significance of that line. At this stage I cannot guarantee anything, because it is all part of the budgetary considerations. However, I add that the 330-kilovolt line was included by Western Power in its submission through access agreement 2. That, of course, is still under consideration by the Economic Regulation Authority. Ideally, the ERA’s recommendations from AA2 should have come down early this year. That is no longer going to happen. As I understand it, it will probably be closer to October, which is a little problematic in making determinations of funding. I repeat that I am aware of the significance of the 330kv line. It is part of the budgetary considerations, but the bigger picture is where it stands in relation to the ERA’s recommendations on AA2. It is a work in progress and we will have to wait and see.
Hon PETER COLLIER replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am very aware of the significance of the 330-kilovolt line to not just Oakajee, but also the whole mid-west area, particularly for the Gindalbie project et cetera. Therefore, I am very conscious of the significance of that line. At this stage I cannot guarantee anything, because it is all part of the budgetary considerations. However, I add that the 330-kilovolt line was included by Western Power in its submission through access agreement 2. That, of course, is still under consideration by the Economic Regulation Authority. Ideally, the ERA’s recommendations from AA2 should have come down early this year. That is no longer going to happen. As I understand it, it will probably be closer to October, which is a little problematic in making determinations of funding. I repeat that I am aware of the significance of the 330kv line. It is part of the budgetary considerations, but the bigger picture is where it stands in relation to the ERA’s recommendations on AA2. It is a work in progress and we will have to wait and see.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am very aware of the significance of the 330-kilovolt line to not just Oakajee, but also the whole mid-west area, particularly for the Gindalbie project et cetera. Therefore, I am very conscious of the significance of that line. At this stage I cannot guarantee anything, because it is all part of the budgetary considerations. However, I add that the 330-kilovolt line was included by Western Power in its submission through access agreement 2. That, of course, is still under consideration by the Economic Regulation Authority. Ideally, the ERA’s recommendations from AA2 should have come down early this year. That is no longer going to happen. As I understand it, it will probably be closer to October, which is a little problematic in making determinations of funding. I repeat that I am aware of the significance of the 330kv line. It is part of the budgetary considerations, but the bigger picture is where it stands in relation to the ERA’s recommendations on AA2. It is a work in progress and we will have to wait and see.
(1)-(2) Yes, I am very aware of the significance of the 330-kilovolt line to not just Oakajee, but also the whole mid-west area, particularly for the Gindalbie project et cetera. Therefore, I am very conscious of the significance of that line. At this stage I cannot guarantee anything, because it is all part of the budgetary considerations. However, I add that the 330-kilovolt line was included by Western Power in its submission through access agreement 2. That, of course, is still under consideration by the Economic Regulation Authority. Ideally, the ERA’s recommendations from AA2 should have come down early this year. That is no longer going to happen. As I understand it, it will probably be closer to October, which is a little problematic in making determinations of funding. I repeat that I am aware of the significance of the 330kv line. It is part of the budgetary considerations, but the bigger picture is where it stands in relation to the ERA’s recommendations on AA2. It is a work in progress and we will have to wait and see.

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