Pilbara Transmission Project

Overview

Pilbara Energy Company Pty Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of Fortescue Metals Group Limited (FMG)) is seeking to develop the Pilbara Transmission Project (the proposal), a high voltage power transmission network in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

The proposal is comprised of approximately 375 kilometres of 220 kilo-volt overhead transmission lines with terminal and substation infrastructure.  The proposal is to be located within a 4780 hectare (ha) development envelope.

The proposal corridor follows the existing FMG rail alignment from Port Hedland and then divides into two to enable servicing of FMG’s Chichester and Solomon Mining hubs.  FMG Iron Bridge (Aust) Pty Ltd.’s approved North Star Mine (subject of Ministerial Statement 993) will connect the network via transmission infrastructure within the North Star Mine approved infrastructure corridor.

The proposal will utilise existing disturbance areas associated with FMG’s rail alignment where possible limiting clearing to up to 305 ha.

The development envelope intersects several Priority Ecological Communities or their administrative buffers.  The development envelope also intersects several reserves including reserves for the use and benefit of the Aboriginal inhabitants.

Why your views matter

At this initial stage of the EIA process, comment is simply sought on whether or not the EPA should assess a proposal and, if so, what level of assessment is considered appropriate.

What happens next

Following the seven day public comment period and consideration of any comments received, the EPA will decide whether or not this proposal requires environmental impact assessment and, if so, what level of assessment will be applied.

The EPA's decisions on level of assessment are released each Monday on the EPA's website.