Terminal stations FAQs

TCV has purchased a property located near Tragowel, approximately 12 kms south of Kerang. Subject to planning and environmental approvals, 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, which will be determined through the planning and assessment processes and in consultation with landholders, farmers, Traditional Owners and communities.

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 terminal. The route for TCV has not yet been finalised. The land purchase at Tragowel does not pre-empt the location of the final easement for the transmission line, which will be determined through the planning and assessment processes and in consultation with landholders, farmers, Traditional Owners and communities.

A broad range of environmental and technical assessments will be conducted under the EES process, which will commence in 2024 and take about two years. Construction on this site cannot commence until all appropriate environmental and planning approvals are obtained, and would not begin before 2026.

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.

A terminal station can be designed so it will operate safely and reliably in a flood-prone area.

Analysis of historical flood levels and input from water management experts will inform the positioning of the proposed terminal infrastructure, e.g. it will be located in areas of none or low predicted flood waters.

Site investigations including soil testing/geological testing will take place as part of the “micro-siting” process to find the best location for the terminal infrastructure within the site.

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.