Project

North West Transmission Developments

PROJECT STATUS
Under Procurement
North West Transmission Developments

The North West Transmission Developments project (NWTD) will see the development of new and upgraded overhead high voltage alternating current transmission lines, linking substations at Palmerston, Sheffield, Burnie, Hampshire and Staverton.

The full scope of works for the project is:

  • 238 km of double circuit transmission lines, with 172 km being upgrades to existing transmission, and 66 km of new transmission to be built
  • approximately 390 new towers
  • upgrades to three substations (Burnie, Sheffield and Palmerston), and
  • one new switching station at Hampshire Hills

The project is being delivered over two stages:

  • Stage One: NWTD transmission upgrades between Palmerston-Sheffield-Heybridge, Stowport to Burnie ($950 million), and
  • Stage Two: NWTD transmission upgrades from Staverton to Hampshire Hills ($550 million).

Following the announcement that Marinus Link Stage One would be the priority delivery of the Marinus Link, the project and timing staging was revised for the NWTD to deliver on focusing Stage One (approximately 60 per cent of the NWTD project) to align with Marinus Link Stage One. Delivery of Stage Two will await a final decision on the second Marinus Link cable. 

Key Dates

Jul 2022 ROIs Open
Aug 2022 ROIs Close
2025 Expected Construction Commencement

Procurement

Procuring Agency: TasNetworks

PROJECT HISTORY

Feb 2021 The Tasmanian Government approved the project's planning criteria.
Jul 2022 TasNetworks opened Registrations of Interest for the project.
Nov 2023 The scope of the project has been expanded from 180 km, to 238 km of transmission lines. It will now be delivered in two stages; Stage One - Palmerston-Sheffield-Heybridge, Stowport to Burnie, and Stage Two - Staverton to Hampshire Hills.
Nov 2023 TasNetworks announced an updated project cost from $800 million to $1.5 billion. Stage One of delivery is estimated to cost $950 million, and Stage two of delivery is estimated to cost $550 million.
Estimated Total Cost
(2023)
Sector
Energy
Procurement approach
Traditional Procurement |
Location
Tasmania |
Resources
Government resources
Project Factsheet
Media releases
2023/11/20
2023/11/06
Tender notices
Registration of Interest
Project pages
TasNetworks