Mountain challenge starts for powerline crews

powerline

Challenging work has started on a steep Far North Queensland mountainside to maintain the critical transmission line that brings power from Barron Gorge Power Station to the Cairns region.

Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said a $3.75 million project was underway to inspect and strengthen a four-kilometre stretch of transmission towers perched in steep terrain in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.

“This is essential, but challenging, maintenance on the most northern point of the transmission network that stretches 1,700 kilometres across Queensland,” he said.

“Some of these 50-year-old towers are on a 37-degree incline, with a three-metre difference in the height of legs on one of the towers, so it presents some special challenges.

Related article: Germany eyes Ipswich for $400m waste-to-energy project

“The project team will consider using helicopters, modified specialised equipment and all-terrain vehicles to complete the job.”

The 18 transmission towers run between Barron Gorge and Kamerunga, adjacent to the Kuranda Scenic Railway line.

Member for Barron River and Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Craig Crawford said the project would support nine jobs and had already started with detailed inspections of the towers that would run into early next year.

“On-ground works are scheduled to begin in mid-2019 after the wet season and, weather permitting, Powerlink expects the project to be completed by late 2019,” Mr Crawford said.

“These towers have been operating in a highly corrosive tropical environment and it’s essential they are effectively maintained to ensure ongoing network reliability, particularly given the cyclone prone nature of this area.

Related article: New hydrogen partnership announced

Previous articleNew NSW solar farm now largest in NEM
Next articleLabor’s battery plan – good policy, or just good politics?