EPBC Act referral Note: PDF may contain fields not relevant to your application. These fields will appear blank or unticked. Please disregard these fields. Title of proposal 2020/8766 - EnergyConnect NSW - Eastern Section Section 1 Summary of your proposed action 1.1 Project industry type Energy Generation and Supply (non-renewable) 1.2 Provide a detailed description of the proposed action, including all proposed activities Overview TransGrid (electricity transmission operator in New South Wales (NSW)) and ElectraNet (electricity transmission operator in South Australia (SA)) are seeking regulatory and environmental planning approval for the construction and operation of a new High Voltage (HV) interconnector between NSW and SA, with an added connection to north-west Victoria. Collectively, the proposed interconnector is known as EnergyConnect. EnergyConnect aims to reduce the cost of providing secure and reliable electricity transmission between NSW and SA in the near term, while facilitating the longer-term transition of the energy sector across the National Electricity Market (NEM) to low emission energy sources. NSW Electricity Networks Operations Pty Limited as trustee for NSW Electricity Networks Operations Trust (trading as TransGrid) is responsible for the NSW components of EnergyConnect. TransGrid is the operator and manager of the main high voltage (HV) transmission network in NSW and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and is the Authorised Network Operator (ANO) for the purpose of an electricity transmission or distribution network under the provisions of the Electricity Network Assets (Authorised Transactions) Act 2015. The NSW components of EnergyConnect will be assessed in stages. The eastern section is the subject of this proposed action and extends from Buronga to Wagga Wagga in NSW. The following terms are discussed throughout this referral and are defined as: • EnergyConnect: an interconnector of about 900 km between the power grids of SA and NSW, with an added connection to north-west Victoria • The proposal: the eastern section of EnergyConnect in NSW. Also identified as the proposed action. • Proposal study area: the proposal study area extends from Buronga substation to Wagga substation and generally comprises a 1 km wide corridor with a broader section between Four Corners and Lockhart (refer to Attachment 1 - Proposed action study area). • Transmission line easement: an area surrounding and including the transmission lines which is a legal ‘right of way’ and allows for ongoing access and maintenance of the lines and will be acquired from landholders. The easement width would be up to 80 m wide. Details of the proposed action The scope of the application made by TransGrid and the basis for this referral includes: • Construction of about 540 km of new double circuit transmission lines (minimum 330 kV) and associated infrastructure between the existing Buronga substation and Wagga substation • Construction of a new substation about 170 km west of Wagga Wagga (referred to as the Dinawan substation) • An upgrade and expansion to the existing Wagga 330 kV substation • Establishment and upgrade of access tracks and roads, as required • Other ancillary works required to facilitate the construction of the proposal e.g. laydown and staging areas, concrete batching plants, brake/winch sites, site offices and accommodation camps. The new transmission line structures would be up to 80 m in height and spaced between 300 and 600 m apart along the line. Bulk earthworks would be required for various purposes, including for the substation works, foundation preparation at each transmission line structure and for establishment and upgrade of access tracks and roads (as required). The extent of earthworks required for the proposal would be refined during detailed design. Where subsurface rock is encountered during the excavation of structure or substation footings, blasting may also be required. Preliminary investigation activities required prior to construction commencing (which would not impact on MNES) are not included in the proposed action scope. Construction program Note: PDF may contain fields not relevant to your application. These fields will appear blank or unticked. Please disregard these fields. Construction of the proposed action would commence in 2022, subject to NSW Government and, if required, Commonwealth planning approvals. Once construction has commenced, the proposal is estimated to take up to three years to construct. The proposed action is expected to be commissioned/energised (i.e. become operational) in late 2024. This program is indicative and is based on the current design and preliminary construction staging. Summary of supporting documents attached to this referral For this referral, the following attachments are referred to: • Attachment 1: Proposal study area .kml file • Attachment 2: Map showing Threatened Species listed under EPBC Act (BioNet records within 10km) and WSP records • Attachment 3: EPBC Act Protected Matters Significant Impact Assessment • Attachment 4: Preliminary Biodiversity Assessment Report • Attachment 5: Map showing preliminary field validated ecological values of the proposal study area • Attachment 6: Figure showing the Corridor Selection Process • Attachment 7: Figure showing Tier 1 and 2 constraints with respect to the proposal study area • Attachment 8: Report outlining engagement activities undertaken for the proposal • Attachment 9: TransGrid's Environmental Policy 1.3 What is the extent and location of your proposed action? See Appendix B 1.5 Provide a brief physical description of the property on which the proposed action will take place and the location of the proposed action (e.g. proximity to major towns, or for off-shore actions, shortest distance to mainland) The proposed action is in regional western NSW. The proposal study area extends from the existing Buronga substation in the west and traverses eastwards across NSW for around 540 km to the existing Wagga 330 kV substation. The nearest major town is Wagga Wagga, which is located about 7.5 km north of the eastern end of the proposal study area. Smaller towns near the proposal study area include Buronga, Euston, Balranald, Urana and Lockhart. The proposal would typically traverse areas of rural land, and land that has been developed primarily for agricultural uses including sheep grazing for wool and meat, cattle grazing and cereal cropping. Other land uses within and surrounding the proposal study area include farm buildings and infrastructure, roads and road reserves, broad acre rural residential development, drainage channels for irrigation and existing transmission line easements as well as several areas of remnant vegetation. 1.6 What is the size of the proposed action area development footprint (or work area) including disturbance footprint and avoidance footprint (if relevant)? The proposed action includes about 540 km of new transmission line from Buronga to Wagga Wagga and associated substation works. The size of the development footprint is subject to final design. To calculate the likely extent of disturbance within the development footprint, direct disturbance impacts were assumed for: • access tracks along the alignment – assumed to be 10 m wide • transmission towers – assumed to be typically spaced at 500 m intervals with a 41.5 m radius centred on the tower locations • The footprint and area required for construction of the new Dinawan substation (36 ha) as well as the upgraded and expanded Wagga substation (17 ha). Clearing for vegetation over a certain height within the easement is to be determined. In total, the proposed action would have a development footprint of up to 1,092 ha. The avoidance footprint and final impact area will be confirmed as part of the EIS. 1.7 Proposed action location Other - Between Buronga and Wagga Wagga (see Section 1.4) 1.8 Primary jurisdiction Note: PDF may contain fields not relevant to your application. These fields will appear blank or unticked. Please disregard these fields. New South Wales 1.9 Has the person proposing to take the action received any Australian Government grant funding to undertake this project? N Yes Y No 1.10 Is the proposed action subject to local government planning approval? N Yes Y No 1.11 Provide an estimated start and estimated end date for the Start Date 01/02/2022 proposed action End Date 01/12/2024 1.12 Provide details of the context, planning framework and state and/or local Government requirements Context Australian energy markets are experiencing a time of significant change, driven by the transition to lower carbon emissions, rapidly evolving technologies and changing customer needs. These changes have brought with them a number of challenges, including: • A current reliance on high-cost gas plant in SA to provide dispatchable capacity • Increased variability of demand and supply due to growth of intermittent renewable generation, both at grid-scale and due to household rooftop photovoltaic (PV). This in turn has led to high wholesale prices in SA and a reduction in contract market liquidity, fuelling affordability concerns for customers. In addition, the SA region is seen as continuingly vulnerable to extreme weather events and system disturbances. The progressive retirement of around half of the NSW coal fleet by 2035 (or sooner) means that alternative low-emission supply sources will be required to fill this gap whilst meeting Australia’s carbon emissions reduction commitments. A new interconnector between SA