A proposal to provide additional electricity to Perth’s north via a new transmission line has been recommended for approval by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), subject to conditions to avoid and protect native vegetation.
The Northern Terminal to Neerabup Terminal 330kV Transmission Line is a Western Power proposal to construct a 29-kilometre dual circuit link between Malaga and Pinjar.
The EPA’s report, published today, outlines the key elements of the proposal as 74 steel lattice towers, dual circuit conductor, maintenance and access tracks, and expansion of the Northern and Neerabup terminal substations.
The proposal intends to reinforce the North Region transmission network and provide additional capacity to connect large-scale renewable energy facilities.
EPA Chair Darren Walsh said the development’s location parallel to the existing 330kV transmission line, and the selection of infrastructure corridors that reduced the extent of clearing meant the proposal met the EPA’s objectives for flora and vegetation.
“During this assessment the EPA was also cognisant of the proponent’s willingness to respond to our feedback and incorporate additional mitigations and offsets,” he said. “By applying further specialised construction and installation methods, the proponent was able to nearly halve the extent of vegetation clearing.
“And the majority of low vegetation would be retained which in turn means that a large proportion of fauna habitat values would be maintained, including primary foraging species for black cockatoos.”
The EPA’s recommended conditions also included offsets on land owned by the proponent, as well as restoration of sites nearby that contained Banksia Woodlands and suitable foraging habitat and nesting trees for black cockatoos.
The EPA is of the view that rehabilitation and protection of the properties in perpetuity can provide a significant improvement to the ecological values of the site and surrounding environment.
“The declining availability of suitable land that provides high quality habitat for offsets, together with the increasingly fragmented ecosystems of the Swan Coastal Plain, means that the piecemeal acquisition of land as offsets for individual proposals is unlikely to be a sustainable regional strategy for black cockatoos.
“The EPA has previously advised that there should be greater emphasis on rehabilitation and restoration of degraded areas within close proximity of the impacted area to increase or improve the habitat available for the Carnaby’s cockatoo.
“During this assessment the proponent followed this EPA advice and identified an additional offset site suitable for restoration efforts to improve connectivity between water and foraging resources for black cockatoos.”
The EPA’s report to the Minister for the Environment is now open for a three-week public appeal period, closing 16 April 2026. Appeals should be directed to the Office of the Appeals Convenor. The Minister for Environment will make the final decision on the proposal. EPA Report 1804 can be found on the EPA website.
EPA Media Contact: Jenni.Storey@dwer.wa.gov.au; 0434 734 997
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