Question on Notice regarding the Pinjar to Geraldton electricity transmission line, its funding, job creation potential, and necessity for renewable energy and mining industries. The government's response is non-committal on several key points.

AnsweredQoN 411Legislative Council
Asked
6 May 2009
Portfolio
Energy

QuestionView source ↗

PINJAR TO GERALDTON ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION LINE
I refer to the Premiers’ agreement at the Council of Australian Governments meeting to renewable energy targets of 20 per cent by 2020 and the consequent need for more wind farm capacity in the mid-west, and to the high electricity needs of the mid-west iron ore industry. (1) Is it not the case that the expansion of both the wind energy and iron ore industries will require the construction of a new 330-kilovolt electricity transmission line from Pinjar to Geraldton? (2) Has the government spent the $75 million allocated in this year’s budget for this transmission line? (3) If no to (2), why not? (4) Is the government committed to the current budget and forward estimates provisions of $295 million for this line? (5) How many construction jobs will be created by full investment in this transmission line? (6) How many future mining and renewable energy jobs depend on this development going ahead? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question, which I answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy. (1) The options for north country reinforcement are being considered and may or may not require a 330-kilovolt transmission line from Pinjar to Geraldton. (2)-(3) No, only a small portion of the $75 million has been spent on pre-construction activities. (4) Information in relation to the 2009-10 state budget and forward estimates will be released on 14 May 2009. (5)-(6) Please refer to (1).
(1) Is it not the case that the expansion of both the wind energy and iron ore industries will require the construction of a new 330-kilovolt electricity transmission line from Pinjar to Geraldton? (2) Has the government spent the $75 million allocated in this year’s budget for this transmission line? (3) If no to (2), why not? (4) Is the government committed to the current budget and forward estimates provisions of $295 million for this line? (5) How many construction jobs will be created by full investment in this transmission line? (6) How many future mining and renewable energy jobs depend on this development going ahead? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question, which I answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy. (1) The options for north country reinforcement are being considered and may or may not require a 330-kilovolt transmission line from Pinjar to Geraldton. (2)-(3) No, only a small portion of the $75 million has been spent on pre-construction activities. (4) Information in relation to the 2009-10 state budget and forward estimates will be released on 14 May 2009. (5)-(6) Please refer to (1).
(2) Has the government spent the $75 million allocated in this year’s budget for this transmission line? (3) If no to (2), why not? (4) Is the government committed to the current budget and forward estimates provisions of $295 million for this line? (5) How many construction jobs will be created by full investment in this transmission line? (6) How many future mining and renewable energy jobs depend on this development going ahead? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question, which I answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy. (1) The options for north country reinforcement are being considered and may or may not require a 330-kilovolt transmission line from Pinjar to Geraldton. (2)-(3) No, only a small portion of the $75 million has been spent on pre-construction activities. (4) Information in relation to the 2009-10 state budget and forward estimates will be released on 14 May 2009. (5)-(6) Please refer to (1).
(3) If no to (2), why not? (4) Is the government committed to the current budget and forward estimates provisions of $295 million for this line? (5) How many construction jobs will be created by full investment in this transmission line? (6) How many future mining and renewable energy jobs depend on this development going ahead? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question, which I answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy. (1) The options for north country reinforcement are being considered and may or may not require a 330-kilovolt transmission line from Pinjar to Geraldton. (2)-(3) No, only a small portion of the $75 million has been spent on pre-construction activities. (4) Information in relation to the 2009-10 state budget and forward estimates will be released on 14 May 2009. (5)-(6) Please refer to (1).
(4) Is the government committed to the current budget and forward estimates provisions of $295 million for this line? (5) How many construction jobs will be created by full investment in this transmission line? (6) How many future mining and renewable energy jobs depend on this development going ahead? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question, which I answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy. (1) The options for north country reinforcement are being considered and may or may not require a 330-kilovolt transmission line from Pinjar to Geraldton. (2)-(3) No, only a small portion of the $75 million has been spent on pre-construction activities. (4) Information in relation to the 2009-10 state budget and forward estimates will be released on 14 May 2009. (5)-(6) Please refer to (1).
(5) How many construction jobs will be created by full investment in this transmission line? (6) How many future mining and renewable energy jobs depend on this development going ahead? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question, which I answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy. (1) The options for north country reinforcement are being considered and may or may not require a 330-kilovolt transmission line from Pinjar to Geraldton. (2)-(3) No, only a small portion of the $75 million has been spent on pre-construction activities. (4) Information in relation to the 2009-10 state budget and forward estimates will be released on 14 May 2009. (5)-(6) Please refer to (1).
(6) How many future mining and renewable energy jobs depend on this development going ahead? Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question, which I answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy. (1) The options for north country reinforcement are being considered and may or may not require a 330-kilovolt transmission line from Pinjar to Geraldton. (2)-(3) No, only a small portion of the $75 million has been spent on pre-construction activities. (4) Information in relation to the 2009-10 state budget and forward estimates will be released on 14 May 2009. (5)-(6) Please refer to (1).
Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question, which I answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy. (1) The options for north country reinforcement are being considered and may or may not require a 330-kilovolt transmission line from Pinjar to Geraldton. (2)-(3) No, only a small portion of the $75 million has been spent on pre-construction activities. (4) Information in relation to the 2009-10 state budget and forward estimates will be released on 14 May 2009. (5)-(6) Please refer to (1).
I thank the member for some notice of this question, which I answer on behalf of the Minister for Energy. (1) The options for north country reinforcement are being considered and may or may not require a 330-kilovolt transmission line from Pinjar to Geraldton. (2)-(3) No, only a small portion of the $75 million has been spent on pre-construction activities. (4) Information in relation to the 2009-10 state budget and forward estimates will be released on 14 May 2009. (5)-(6) Please refer to (1).
(1) The options for north country reinforcement are being considered and may or may not require a 330-kilovolt transmission line from Pinjar to Geraldton. (2)-(3) No, only a small portion of the $75 million has been spent on pre-construction activities. (4) Information in relation to the 2009-10 state budget and forward estimates will be released on 14 May 2009. (5)-(6) Please refer to (1).
(2)-(3) No, only a small portion of the $75 million has been spent on pre-construction activities. (4) Information in relation to the 2009-10 state budget and forward estimates will be released on 14 May 2009. (5)-(6) Please refer to (1).
(4) Information in relation to the 2009-10 state budget and forward estimates will be released on 14 May 2009. (5)-(6) Please refer to (1).
(5)-(6) Please refer to (1).

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