TCV has purchased a property located near Tragowel, approximately 12 kms south of Kerang. Subject to the outcomes of the EES, the 360-hectare site is proposed as the location for a new terminal station required as part of the VNI West transmission project. Construction on this site cannot commence until all appropriate environmental and planning approvals are obtained and would not begin before 2026. The land purchase does not pre-empt the location of the final easement for the transmission line.

This type of infrastructure is common across Victoria, with 61 terminal stations currently in operation, including several of a similar size, such as a terminal located in Moorabool. The proposed Tragowel terminal station is yet to be designed, but the initial footprint is likely to be less than 20% of the available land, with dimensions around 300m x 800m leaving considerable areas of open space.

A terminal station is a key component of the electrical grid and is crucial in ensuring a stable and safe electrical supply. Victoria is home to over 60 such facilities, designed to facilitate the transition of electricity from high-voltage transmission lines to lower-voltage distribution networks that directly serve homes, businesses, and other users.

TCV has not yet gone through the assessment and approval stage for the proposed termina lines. Assessments of the terminal station site will be included as part of the EES. The land purchase at Tragowel does not pre-empt the location of the final terminal station site. The EES processes and consultation with landholders, farmers, Traditional Owners and communities – will be considered in identifying a final location. A broad range of environmental and technical assessments will be conducted under the EES process, which commenced in 2024 and will take about two years. Construction on this site cannot commence until all appropriate environmental and planning approvals are obtained.

Yes. Flooding and water flows were an important consideration during the ‘due diligence’ process as we made an initial assessment of the suitability of the site for a terminal station. Initial studies looked at issues such as siting, water flows, flood levels and requirements from water and catchment authorities. More information about flooding and the proposed terminal site can be found here (https://transmissionvictoria.com.au/project-resour...).

A terminal station can be designed so it will operate safely and reliably in a flood-prone area. In a major flood, even if a terminal is surrounded by water, it can generally still operate, and without safety risk to the community. The control room and high voltage components will be designed to be elevated well above peak flood levels.

Terminal stations are largely remotely operated, which means that access is not required for day-to-day activities. In a major flood, even if a terminal is surrounded by water, it can generally still operate, and without safety risk to the community.

The control room and high voltage components will be designed to be elevated well above peak flood levels.

If there is a fault, automatic protection systems will trigger shutdowns to ensure there is no electricity safety risk.

The terminal station can also be shut down remotely if required.

If emergency access is needed, this could be by boat or air, if roads are inaccessible.

During a major flood, the TNSP (terminal station operator) would undertake remote testing and also typically perform aerial surveys to check the condition of the line and the terminal station.