The Board of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has concluded its assessments of a proposal by Marinus Link Pty Ltd (Marinus Link) to construct and operate a 1500 megawatt (MW) high-voltage direct current (HVDC) electricity and telecommunications interconnector between Heybridge in north west Tasmania and Hazlewood in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria.
The proposal includes two components in Tasmanian state waters and the Burnie municipality, which were separately assessed by the EPA Board, namely, the construction and operation of two subsea cable circuits, and the construction and operation of two converter stations and a high voltage alternating current (HVAC) switching station.
Public consultation was open for 42 days commencing on 4 January 2025. 19 representations were made in relation to the converter and switching stations component of the proposal, and 3 representations were made in relation to the subsea cable circuits component of the proposal. Key issues raised included economic and social impacts, contaminated land, noise and vibration emissions, impacts on natural values, cumulative impacts and electric and magnetic fields.
The proposal will be constructed on the site of the former Tioxide plant in Heybridge which operated between 1948 and 1996. The historical use of this site has resulted in low levels of contamination within the soil and groundwater.
The EPA Board has considered the relevant issues and determined that the proposal can be managed in an environmentally sustainable manner, with the following key conditions imposed:
- Engagement of a Site Contamination Specialist under the Certified Environmental Practitioner Scheme (CEnvP(SC)) of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) to prepare and implement a Contaminated Materials Management Plan and adhere to best practice standards and guidelines for the management of contaminated materials.
- Develop and implement a Construction Noise and Vibration Management Plan and comply with noise emission management levels to ensure appropriate noise levels during construction.
- Undertake noise surveys, prepare and implement an Operational Noise Management Plan, and comply with noise emission limits during operation of the converter and switching stations.
- Capture all groundwater inflows during construction for offsite disposal and prevent groundwater discharge to the environment.
- Develop a Groundwater Management Plan to demonstrate how the final design of the proposal and construction approaches will ensure groundwater is adequately managed on site.
The proposal will also involve undertaking construction activities in Tasmanian state waters. To manage any potential impacts on marine natural values, Marinus Link is required to:
- Develop and implement a Marine Fauna Management Plan that includes mitigation strategies for minimising artificial light, as well as soft start procedures, specifications for designated caution zones around vessels, and the deployment of marine fauna observers on vessels.
Once operational, the subsea cables will emit electric and magnetic fields which have the potential to impact marine fauna. Marinus Link is therefore required to:
- Undertake surveys of electric and magnetic fields prior to operation of the subsea cables to validate the modelling undertaken during the assessment. Marinus Link may also be required to prepare and implement an Electric and Magnetic Fields Monitoring Plan.
- Provide an Underwater Noise Impact Assessment Report and the results of underwater noise verification measurements to the EPA Director for approval prior to construction commencing.
Conditions have also been imposed by the EPA Board to manage any potential impacts on marine water quality as a result of turbidity plumes or the unexpected release of drilling fluids and cuttings during horizontal directional drilling. These conditions require Marinus Link to:
- Prepare and implement a Frac-Out Prevention and Management Plan and to undertake real-time turbidity monitoring during construction in the marine environment.
- Include appropriate monitoring triggers and responses to manage sediment plumes in the Construction Environmental Management Plan for the proposal.
The EPA Board undertook assessment of the proposal in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Principles defined in Section 74 of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994.
This decision and all assessment documents can be viewed on the EPA website at Marinus Link Pty Ltd, Marinus Link Heybridge Shore Crossing, Heybridge and Coastal Waters | EPA Tasmania and Marinus Link Pty Ltd, Marinus Link Heybridge Converter Station, Heybridge | EPA Tasmania.
ENDS.
Published on:
27/11/2025