❓ A parliamentary question addresses the Pinjar-Cataby and Cataby-Eneabba transmission line project, questioning the rationale for centralized power generation, consideration of renewable alternatives, and alignment with the Gingin coast structure plan. The Minister's response defends the project, citing system limitations and planning considerations.
AnsweredQoN 313Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the proposed Western Power Pinjar-Cataby and Cataby-Eneabba transmission line. (1) Why can power not be generated locally where it is required, eliminating the need for super highways of transmission lines to be built around the State? Why were alternatives to entrenching centralised fossil fuel generation capacity and energy-wasteful power grids, such as renewable power generation - for example, wind power - not considered? (2) Why was the proposed transmission line not considered within the Gingin coast structure plan process, and will the construction of the transmission line be delayed pending a decision on the Gingin coast structure plan? (3) Given that the former Minister for Energy, Colin Barnett, in a media statement in December last year, stated that nearly $480 million would be spent over five years on transmission to improve the capacity, reliability and quality of electricity for country areas, is not the estimated cost of $60 million for the first two stages of the transmission line - set out in the minister’s response to my question 160 of 25 June 2001 - an underestimate? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The transmission system from Perth to Geraldton is operating close to capacity. Western Power considered a range of options to ensure that customers between Perth and Geraldton continued to receive reliable and quality power supplies. Those options included local gas turbines and renewable energy, such as wind. Although renewable sources may provide some of Western Power’s system needs, renewable energy cannot be relied upon to be available when the energy is needed. Other generation options are required. Due to system stability limitations, Western Power is unable to substantially add to the generation in the north country area without significantly reinforcing its existing transmission system. (2) The proposed line was considered within the Gingin coast structure plan process. Advice from representatives of the consultant conducting the study for the Western Australian Planning Commission and the Ministry for Planning advised Western Power that the proposed alignment was the ‘best possible” to minimise the effects on future land use plans for the region. Construction will not be delayed pending a decision on the Gingin coast structure plan. (3) No. This is an indicative cost of a double circuit 132 000-volt transmission line Pinjar to Cataby and Cataby to Eneabba. The indicative cost includes environmental rehabilitation and compensation to landowners. As a postscript, this answer is delivered on behalf of the Minister for Energy. If the member has some outstanding issues that she would like me to pursue with the Minister for Energy, I will be happy to do so.
(1) Why can power not be generated locally where it is required, eliminating the need for super highways of transmission lines to be built around the State? Why were alternatives to entrenching centralised fossil fuel generation capacity and energy-wasteful power grids, such as renewable power generation - for example, wind power - not considered? (2) Why was the proposed transmission line not considered within the Gingin coast structure plan process, and will the construction of the transmission line be delayed pending a decision on the Gingin coast structure plan? (3) Given that the former Minister for Energy, Colin Barnett, in a media statement in December last year, stated that nearly $480 million would be spent over five years on transmission to improve the capacity, reliability and quality of electricity for country areas, is not the estimated cost of $60 million for the first two stages of the transmission line - set out in the minister’s response to my question 160 of 25 June 2001 - an underestimate? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The transmission system from Perth to Geraldton is operating close to capacity. Western Power considered a range of options to ensure that customers between Perth and Geraldton continued to receive reliable and quality power supplies. Those options included local gas turbines and renewable energy, such as wind. Although renewable sources may provide some of Western Power’s system needs, renewable energy cannot be relied upon to be available when the energy is needed. Other generation options are required. Due to system stability limitations, Western Power is unable to substantially add to the generation in the north country area without significantly reinforcing its existing transmission system. (2) The proposed line was considered within the Gingin coast structure plan process. Advice from representatives of the consultant conducting the study for the Western Australian Planning Commission and the Ministry for Planning advised Western Power that the proposed alignment was the ‘best possible” to minimise the effects on future land use plans for the region. Construction will not be delayed pending a decision on the Gingin coast structure plan. (3) No. This is an indicative cost of a double circuit 132 000-volt transmission line Pinjar to Cataby and Cataby to Eneabba. The indicative cost includes environmental rehabilitation and compensation to landowners. As a postscript, this answer is delivered on behalf of the Minister for Energy. If the member has some outstanding issues that she would like me to pursue with the Minister for Energy, I will be happy to do so.
(2) Why was the proposed transmission line not considered within the Gingin coast structure plan process, and will the construction of the transmission line be delayed pending a decision on the Gingin coast structure plan? (3) Given that the former Minister for Energy, Colin Barnett, in a media statement in December last year, stated that nearly $480 million would be spent over five years on transmission to improve the capacity, reliability and quality of electricity for country areas, is not the estimated cost of $60 million for the first two stages of the transmission line - set out in the minister’s response to my question 160 of 25 June 2001 - an underestimate? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The transmission system from Perth to Geraldton is operating close to capacity. Western Power considered a range of options to ensure that customers between Perth and Geraldton continued to receive reliable and quality power supplies. Those options included local gas turbines and renewable energy, such as wind. Although renewable sources may provide some of Western Power’s system needs, renewable energy cannot be relied upon to be available when the energy is needed. Other generation options are required. Due to system stability limitations, Western Power is unable to substantially add to the generation in the north country area without significantly reinforcing its existing transmission system. (2) The proposed line was considered within the Gingin coast structure plan process. Advice from representatives of the consultant conducting the study for the Western Australian Planning Commission and the Ministry for Planning advised Western Power that the proposed alignment was the ‘best possible” to minimise the effects on future land use plans for the region. Construction will not be delayed pending a decision on the Gingin coast structure plan. (3) No. This is an indicative cost of a double circuit 132 000-volt transmission line Pinjar to Cataby and Cataby to Eneabba. The indicative cost includes environmental rehabilitation and compensation to landowners. As a postscript, this answer is delivered on behalf of the Minister for Energy. If the member has some outstanding issues that she would like me to pursue with the Minister for Energy, I will be happy to do so.
(3) Given that the former Minister for Energy, Colin Barnett, in a media statement in December last year, stated that nearly $480 million would be spent over five years on transmission to improve the capacity, reliability and quality of electricity for country areas, is not the estimated cost of $60 million for the first two stages of the transmission line - set out in the minister’s response to my question 160 of 25 June 2001 - an underestimate? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The transmission system from Perth to Geraldton is operating close to capacity. Western Power considered a range of options to ensure that customers between Perth and Geraldton continued to receive reliable and quality power supplies. Those options included local gas turbines and renewable energy, such as wind. Although renewable sources may provide some of Western Power’s system needs, renewable energy cannot be relied upon to be available when the energy is needed. Other generation options are required. Due to system stability limitations, Western Power is unable to substantially add to the generation in the north country area without significantly reinforcing its existing transmission system. (2) The proposed line was considered within the Gingin coast structure plan process. Advice from representatives of the consultant conducting the study for the Western Australian Planning Commission and the Ministry for Planning advised Western Power that the proposed alignment was the ‘best possible” to minimise the effects on future land use plans for the region. Construction will not be delayed pending a decision on the Gingin coast structure plan. (3) No. This is an indicative cost of a double circuit 132 000-volt transmission line Pinjar to Cataby and Cataby to Eneabba. The indicative cost includes environmental rehabilitation and compensation to landowners. As a postscript, this answer is delivered on behalf of the Minister for Energy. If the member has some outstanding issues that she would like me to pursue with the Minister for Energy, I will be happy to do so.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The transmission system from Perth to Geraldton is operating close to capacity. Western Power considered a range of options to ensure that customers between Perth and Geraldton continued to receive reliable and quality power supplies. Those options included local gas turbines and renewable energy, such as wind. Although renewable sources may provide some of Western Power’s system needs, renewable energy cannot be relied upon to be available when the energy is needed. Other generation options are required. Due to system stability limitations, Western Power is unable to substantially add to the generation in the north country area without significantly reinforcing its existing transmission system. (2) The proposed line was considered within the Gingin coast structure plan process. Advice from representatives of the consultant conducting the study for the Western Australian Planning Commission and the Ministry for Planning advised Western Power that the proposed alignment was the ‘best possible” to minimise the effects on future land use plans for the region. Construction will not be delayed pending a decision on the Gingin coast structure plan. (3) No. This is an indicative cost of a double circuit 132 000-volt transmission line Pinjar to Cataby and Cataby to Eneabba. The indicative cost includes environmental rehabilitation and compensation to landowners. As a postscript, this answer is delivered on behalf of the Minister for Energy. If the member has some outstanding issues that she would like me to pursue with the Minister for Energy, I will be happy to do so.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The transmission system from Perth to Geraldton is operating close to capacity. Western Power considered a range of options to ensure that customers between Perth and Geraldton continued to receive reliable and quality power supplies. Those options included local gas turbines and renewable energy, such as wind. Although renewable sources may provide some of Western Power’s system needs, renewable energy cannot be relied upon to be available when the energy is needed. Other generation options are required. Due to system stability limitations, Western Power is unable to substantially add to the generation in the north country area without significantly reinforcing its existing transmission system. (2) The proposed line was considered within the Gingin coast structure plan process. Advice from representatives of the consultant conducting the study for the Western Australian Planning Commission and the Ministry for Planning advised Western Power that the proposed alignment was the ‘best possible” to minimise the effects on future land use plans for the region. Construction will not be delayed pending a decision on the Gingin coast structure plan. (3) No. This is an indicative cost of a double circuit 132 000-volt transmission line Pinjar to Cataby and Cataby to Eneabba. The indicative cost includes environmental rehabilitation and compensation to landowners. As a postscript, this answer is delivered on behalf of the Minister for Energy. If the member has some outstanding issues that she would like me to pursue with the Minister for Energy, I will be happy to do so.
(1) The transmission system from Perth to Geraldton is operating close to capacity. Western Power considered a range of options to ensure that customers between Perth and Geraldton continued to receive reliable and quality power supplies. Those options included local gas turbines and renewable energy, such as wind. Although renewable sources may provide some of Western Power’s system needs, renewable energy cannot be relied upon to be available when the energy is needed. Other generation options are required. Due to system stability limitations, Western Power is unable to substantially add to the generation in the north country area without significantly reinforcing its existing transmission system. (2) The proposed line was considered within the Gingin coast structure plan process. Advice from representatives of the consultant conducting the study for the Western Australian Planning Commission and the Ministry for Planning advised Western Power that the proposed alignment was the ‘best possible” to minimise the effects on future land use plans for the region. Construction will not be delayed pending a decision on the Gingin coast structure plan. (3) No. This is an indicative cost of a double circuit 132 000-volt transmission line Pinjar to Cataby and Cataby to Eneabba. The indicative cost includes environmental rehabilitation and compensation to landowners. As a postscript, this answer is delivered on behalf of the Minister for Energy. If the member has some outstanding issues that she would like me to pursue with the Minister for Energy, I will be happy to do so.
(2) The proposed line was considered within the Gingin coast structure plan process. Advice from representatives of the consultant conducting the study for the Western Australian Planning Commission and the Ministry for Planning advised Western Power that the proposed alignment was the ‘best possible” to minimise the effects on future land use plans for the region. Construction will not be delayed pending a decision on the Gingin coast structure plan. (3) No. This is an indicative cost of a double circuit 132 000-volt transmission line Pinjar to Cataby and Cataby to Eneabba. The indicative cost includes environmental rehabilitation and compensation to landowners. As a postscript, this answer is delivered on behalf of the Minister for Energy. If the member has some outstanding issues that she would like me to pursue with the Minister for Energy, I will be happy to do so.
(3) No. This is an indicative cost of a double circuit 132 000-volt transmission line Pinjar to Cataby and Cataby to Eneabba. The indicative cost includes environmental rehabilitation and compensation to landowners. As a postscript, this answer is delivered on behalf of the Minister for Energy. If the member has some outstanding issues that she would like me to pursue with the Minister for Energy, I will be happy to do so.
As a postscript, this answer is delivered on behalf of the Minister for Energy. If the member has some outstanding issues that she would like me to pursue with the Minister for Energy, I will be happy to do so.
(1) Why can power not be generated locally where it is required, eliminating the need for super highways of transmission lines to be built around the State? Why were alternatives to entrenching centralised fossil fuel generation capacity and energy-wasteful power grids, such as renewable power generation - for example, wind power - not considered? (2) Why was the proposed transmission line not considered within the Gingin coast structure plan process, and will the construction of the transmission line be delayed pending a decision on the Gingin coast structure plan? (3) Given that the former Minister for Energy, Colin Barnett, in a media statement in December last year, stated that nearly $480 million would be spent over five years on transmission to improve the capacity, reliability and quality of electricity for country areas, is not the estimated cost of $60 million for the first two stages of the transmission line - set out in the minister’s response to my question 160 of 25 June 2001 - an underestimate? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The transmission system from Perth to Geraldton is operating close to capacity. Western Power considered a range of options to ensure that customers between Perth and Geraldton continued to receive reliable and quality power supplies. Those options included local gas turbines and renewable energy, such as wind. Although renewable sources may provide some of Western Power’s system needs, renewable energy cannot be relied upon to be available when the energy is needed. Other generation options are required. Due to system stability limitations, Western Power is unable to substantially add to the generation in the north country area without significantly reinforcing its existing transmission system. (2) The proposed line was considered within the Gingin coast structure plan process. Advice from representatives of the consultant conducting the study for the Western Australian Planning Commission and the Ministry for Planning advised Western Power that the proposed alignment was the ‘best possible” to minimise the effects on future land use plans for the region. Construction will not be delayed pending a decision on the Gingin coast structure plan. (3) No. This is an indicative cost of a double circuit 132 000-volt transmission line Pinjar to Cataby and Cataby to Eneabba. The indicative cost includes environmental rehabilitation and compensation to landowners. As a postscript, this answer is delivered on behalf of the Minister for Energy. If the member has some outstanding issues that she would like me to pursue with the Minister for Energy, I will be happy to do so.
(2) Why was the proposed transmission line not considered within the Gingin coast structure plan process, and will the construction of the transmission line be delayed pending a decision on the Gingin coast structure plan? (3) Given that the former Minister for Energy, Colin Barnett, in a media statement in December last year, stated that nearly $480 million would be spent over five years on transmission to improve the capacity, reliability and quality of electricity for country areas, is not the estimated cost of $60 million for the first two stages of the transmission line - set out in the minister’s response to my question 160 of 25 June 2001 - an underestimate? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The transmission system from Perth to Geraldton is operating close to capacity. Western Power considered a range of options to ensure that customers between Perth and Geraldton continued to receive reliable and quality power supplies. Those options included local gas turbines and renewable energy, such as wind. Although renewable sources may provide some of Western Power’s system needs, renewable energy cannot be relied upon to be available when the energy is needed. Other generation options are required. Due to system stability limitations, Western Power is unable to substantially add to the generation in the north country area without significantly reinforcing its existing transmission system. (2) The proposed line was considered within the Gingin coast structure plan process. Advice from representatives of the consultant conducting the study for the Western Australian Planning Commission and the Ministry for Planning advised Western Power that the proposed alignment was the ‘best possible” to minimise the effects on future land use plans for the region. Construction will not be delayed pending a decision on the Gingin coast structure plan. (3) No. This is an indicative cost of a double circuit 132 000-volt transmission line Pinjar to Cataby and Cataby to Eneabba. The indicative cost includes environmental rehabilitation and compensation to landowners. As a postscript, this answer is delivered on behalf of the Minister for Energy. If the member has some outstanding issues that she would like me to pursue with the Minister for Energy, I will be happy to do so.
(3) Given that the former Minister for Energy, Colin Barnett, in a media statement in December last year, stated that nearly $480 million would be spent over five years on transmission to improve the capacity, reliability and quality of electricity for country areas, is not the estimated cost of $60 million for the first two stages of the transmission line - set out in the minister’s response to my question 160 of 25 June 2001 - an underestimate? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The transmission system from Perth to Geraldton is operating close to capacity. Western Power considered a range of options to ensure that customers between Perth and Geraldton continued to receive reliable and quality power supplies. Those options included local gas turbines and renewable energy, such as wind. Although renewable sources may provide some of Western Power’s system needs, renewable energy cannot be relied upon to be available when the energy is needed. Other generation options are required. Due to system stability limitations, Western Power is unable to substantially add to the generation in the north country area without significantly reinforcing its existing transmission system. (2) The proposed line was considered within the Gingin coast structure plan process. Advice from representatives of the consultant conducting the study for the Western Australian Planning Commission and the Ministry for Planning advised Western Power that the proposed alignment was the ‘best possible” to minimise the effects on future land use plans for the region. Construction will not be delayed pending a decision on the Gingin coast structure plan. (3) No. This is an indicative cost of a double circuit 132 000-volt transmission line Pinjar to Cataby and Cataby to Eneabba. The indicative cost includes environmental rehabilitation and compensation to landowners. As a postscript, this answer is delivered on behalf of the Minister for Energy. If the member has some outstanding issues that she would like me to pursue with the Minister for Energy, I will be happy to do so.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The transmission system from Perth to Geraldton is operating close to capacity. Western Power considered a range of options to ensure that customers between Perth and Geraldton continued to receive reliable and quality power supplies. Those options included local gas turbines and renewable energy, such as wind. Although renewable sources may provide some of Western Power’s system needs, renewable energy cannot be relied upon to be available when the energy is needed. Other generation options are required. Due to system stability limitations, Western Power is unable to substantially add to the generation in the north country area without significantly reinforcing its existing transmission system. (2) The proposed line was considered within the Gingin coast structure plan process. Advice from representatives of the consultant conducting the study for the Western Australian Planning Commission and the Ministry for Planning advised Western Power that the proposed alignment was the ‘best possible” to minimise the effects on future land use plans for the region. Construction will not be delayed pending a decision on the Gingin coast structure plan. (3) No. This is an indicative cost of a double circuit 132 000-volt transmission line Pinjar to Cataby and Cataby to Eneabba. The indicative cost includes environmental rehabilitation and compensation to landowners. As a postscript, this answer is delivered on behalf of the Minister for Energy. If the member has some outstanding issues that she would like me to pursue with the Minister for Energy, I will be happy to do so.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The transmission system from Perth to Geraldton is operating close to capacity. Western Power considered a range of options to ensure that customers between Perth and Geraldton continued to receive reliable and quality power supplies. Those options included local gas turbines and renewable energy, such as wind. Although renewable sources may provide some of Western Power’s system needs, renewable energy cannot be relied upon to be available when the energy is needed. Other generation options are required. Due to system stability limitations, Western Power is unable to substantially add to the generation in the north country area without significantly reinforcing its existing transmission system. (2) The proposed line was considered within the Gingin coast structure plan process. Advice from representatives of the consultant conducting the study for the Western Australian Planning Commission and the Ministry for Planning advised Western Power that the proposed alignment was the ‘best possible” to minimise the effects on future land use plans for the region. Construction will not be delayed pending a decision on the Gingin coast structure plan. (3) No. This is an indicative cost of a double circuit 132 000-volt transmission line Pinjar to Cataby and Cataby to Eneabba. The indicative cost includes environmental rehabilitation and compensation to landowners. As a postscript, this answer is delivered on behalf of the Minister for Energy. If the member has some outstanding issues that she would like me to pursue with the Minister for Energy, I will be happy to do so.
(1) The transmission system from Perth to Geraldton is operating close to capacity. Western Power considered a range of options to ensure that customers between Perth and Geraldton continued to receive reliable and quality power supplies. Those options included local gas turbines and renewable energy, such as wind. Although renewable sources may provide some of Western Power’s system needs, renewable energy cannot be relied upon to be available when the energy is needed. Other generation options are required. Due to system stability limitations, Western Power is unable to substantially add to the generation in the north country area without significantly reinforcing its existing transmission system. (2) The proposed line was considered within the Gingin coast structure plan process. Advice from representatives of the consultant conducting the study for the Western Australian Planning Commission and the Ministry for Planning advised Western Power that the proposed alignment was the ‘best possible” to minimise the effects on future land use plans for the region. Construction will not be delayed pending a decision on the Gingin coast structure plan. (3) No. This is an indicative cost of a double circuit 132 000-volt transmission line Pinjar to Cataby and Cataby to Eneabba. The indicative cost includes environmental rehabilitation and compensation to landowners. As a postscript, this answer is delivered on behalf of the Minister for Energy. If the member has some outstanding issues that she would like me to pursue with the Minister for Energy, I will be happy to do so.
(2) The proposed line was considered within the Gingin coast structure plan process. Advice from representatives of the consultant conducting the study for the Western Australian Planning Commission and the Ministry for Planning advised Western Power that the proposed alignment was the ‘best possible” to minimise the effects on future land use plans for the region. Construction will not be delayed pending a decision on the Gingin coast structure plan. (3) No. This is an indicative cost of a double circuit 132 000-volt transmission line Pinjar to Cataby and Cataby to Eneabba. The indicative cost includes environmental rehabilitation and compensation to landowners. As a postscript, this answer is delivered on behalf of the Minister for Energy. If the member has some outstanding issues that she would like me to pursue with the Minister for Energy, I will be happy to do so.
(3) No. This is an indicative cost of a double circuit 132 000-volt transmission line Pinjar to Cataby and Cataby to Eneabba. The indicative cost includes environmental rehabilitation and compensation to landowners. As a postscript, this answer is delivered on behalf of the Minister for Energy. If the member has some outstanding issues that she would like me to pursue with the Minister for Energy, I will be happy to do so.
As a postscript, this answer is delivered on behalf of the Minister for Energy. If the member has some outstanding issues that she would like me to pursue with the Minister for Energy, I will be happy to do so.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.