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<p><strong>Background</strong></p><p>The Capricornia Energy Hub (CEH) Transmission Project (CEH Transmission Project) is a proposed transmission project located about 80km west of Mackay, Queensland. The project is located about 10km west of Eungella near the existing Eungella Dam (see Att. 1 Capricornia Energy Hub Transmission Project Ecological Significance of Impact Assessment MNES 2023 [CEH Transmission Project SIA 2023], Fig 1-1, pp 3). The CEH Transmission Project connects the CEH Pumped Hydroelectric Energy Storage (PHES) Project (CEH PHES Project) to the National Electricity Market by grid connection to the Nebo-Strathmore transmission line approximately 17km directly west of the CEH PHES Project.&nbsp;</p><p>Depending on operational requirements and market conditions, the CEH PHES Project will operate as a load or generator.&nbsp;A separate referral has been made for the 750MW pump/generation facility with a storage capacity of 12GWh (16hr) (EPBC Ref: 2023/09626), which will comprise two reservoirs: an upper reservoir with a valley in-fill wall, and an in-stream lower reservoir in the Broken River downstream and proximate to the existing Eungella Dam.</p><p>The CEH Transmission Project was part of a previous larger referral Ref:2020/8706 which was withdrawn on 10 January 2023.</p><p><strong>The Proposed Action&nbsp;</strong></p><p>The proposed action is the construction and operation of the CEH Transmission Project in the locality of Eungella Dam approximately 80km west of Mackay.</p><p>The project area is shown in Att. 1 (CEH Transmission Project SIA 2023), Fig 1-2, pp 4. Within the project area, a transmission study area has been identified to define land areas subject to detailed environmental surveys (see Att. 1 (CEH Transmission Project SIA 2023), Fig 2-1, pp 9).&nbsp;</p><p>The CEH Transmission Project includes the construction and operation of the following components:</p><ol><li>A 275kV triple circuit overhead transmission line connecting the CEH&nbsp;PHES Project (EPBC Ref: 2023/09626) to the existing Powerlink 275kV Strathmore to Nebo transmission line (a direct line distance of about 17km);</li><li>A sub-station at the connection location to the Powerlink network to provide facilities for connection of the CEH Transmission Project to the grid;</li><li>Permanent access tracks;</li><li>Communications facilities; and</li><li>Temporary works such as access tracks and laydown areas.</li></ol><p>The transmission line will require a 90m wide easement.&nbsp;</p><p>A final alignment for the transmission line has not yet been determined and the studies required to make a final determination are occurring within a transmission study area. Several routes have already been considered and discounted and refinement of routes is occurring in the remaining feasible areas (options 15 and 16 - see Att. 1 (CEH Transmission Project SIA 2023), Fig 1-3, pp5)).&nbsp;Att. 2 (Attachment 2 - Additional Maps - Fig 5) shows all routes considered.</p><p>The nature of activities that may give rise to significant impacts on matters of national environmental significance include:&nbsp;</p><ol><li>Vegetation clearing (for electricity easement, tower pads, permanent or temporary access tracks, substation construction and laydown areas). Vegetation clearing can directly or indirectly impact habitat for species listed as endangered, threatened or vulnerable under the EPBC Act through habitat removal, fragmentation and barrier effects and the introduction of weed and pest species;</li><li>Excavation and earthworks. During construction, noise, vibration and dust emissions have the potential to directly and indirectly affect species listed under the EPBC Act in areas within and adjacent to the construction activities. Mobilisation of sediment from disturbed areas has the potential to affect aquatic habitats and species; and</li><li>Operations. Once constructed, cleared areas have the potential to harbour weed and pest species.</li></ol><p>The entire project area is 10022.32 ha, however, only a maximum of 214.81 ha will be disturbed. There are two options for the transmission line route: options 15 and 16 (see Att. 1 (CEH Transmission Project SIA 2023), Fig 1-3, pp5 and section 2.1 of this referral that shows both options). Only one of the options will be selected for construction.</p><p>For the purposes of this referral, significant impact assessments have been based on the transmission option with the greatest impact on the relevant species or community. Once a final route is selected and further mitigation measures are applied, the disturbance areas will decrease, and the avoidance and retention areas can be confirmed.</p><p>The disturbance areas calculated in this referral are a worst case scenario as it assumes complete land clearance within the 90m transmission easement. As the routes are further refined and a final option selected, mitigation measures, such as raising lines to avoid species or communities, can be further considered and implemented in final design.</p><p>Transmission option 15 involves a maximum disturbance area of 214.81 ha comprising:</p><ol><li>Transmission corridors and tower pads – 181.8 hectares of land disturbance (102.8 ha remnant, 69.7 non-remnant and 9.3 regrowth);&nbsp;</li><li>Access tracks – 18.1 hectares of land disturbance (14.1 ha remnant, 3.2 ha non-remnant and 0.8 ha regrowth); and</li><li>Sub-station – 14.91 hectares of land disturbance (3 ha remnant, 9.8 ha non-remnant and 2.2 ha regrowth).</li></ol><p>Transmission option 16 involves a maximum disturbance area of 207.02 ha comprising:</p><ol><li>Transmission corridors and tower pads – 176.31 hectares of land disturbance (105.66 ha remnant, 65.51 ha non-remnant and 9.12 ha regrowth);&nbsp;</li><li>Access tracks – 14.91 hectares of land disturbance (11.63 ha remnant, 3.35 ha non-remnant and 0.81 ha regrowth); and</li><li>Sub-station – 14.91 hectares of land disturbance (2.97 ha remnant, 9.8 ha non-remnant and 2.2 ha regrowth).</li></ol><p>Following completion of the concept design for the transmission line and the application of further avoidance and mitigation measures, there will be clarity about the disturbance footprint (which is expected to decrease) and the avoidance and retention areas can be defined with greater certainty.&nbsp;</p><p>Investigation activities including surveys, environmental assessments, project design and geotechnical investigations are excluded from the scope of the activities the subject of this referral.</p><p>The CEH Transmission Project, together with the CEH PHES Project, are the subject of an application for a coordinated project under the Queensland <i>State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971</i> (lodged 28 July 2023). Should the State of Queensland decide that the project is a coordinated project for which an EIS is required, and the Minister determines that this project is a controlled action, the bilateral agreement between the Commonwealth and the State of Queensland under Section 45 of the&nbsp;<i>Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999</i>&nbsp;relating to environmental assessment may apply.</p>
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