Powerlink has published a Project Specification Consultation Report (PSCR) to maintain reliability of supply to Townsville South.
The Townsville South Substation is located approximately 11 kilometres south-east of the Townsville central business district and is a major injection point into the Ergon Energy distribution network for southern and eastern Townsville.
The primary switchgear at Townsville South Substation – the equipment through which the electrical power passes – has been identified as being at risk of premature failure or is at the end of its technical service life with identified defects and obsolescence issues. Both factors increase the risk to supply in the Townsville area.
The proposed preferred option that is considered to satisfy the Regulatory Investment Test for Transmission (RIT-T) is undertaking a single stage replacement utilising dead tank circuit breakers by December 2027. The indicative capital cost of the RIT-T project for the preferred option is $20.23 million in 2025 prices.
In accordance with the requirements of the NER, a summary of the PSCR is made available on the AEMO website. A copy of the PSCR can be obtained from the Powerlink website on the RIT-T Consultations page or by emailing [email protected].
Submissions on the PSCR are required by the closing date of Friday, 10 April 2026.
Any enquiries in the first instance should be directed to:
Grant Haydon
Manager Network and Alternate Solutions
Powerlink Queensland
PO Box 1193
VIRGINIA, QLD 4014
Tel: (+617) 3860 2111