OVERVIEW

High Voltage power distribution into Melbourne commenced in 1924 from the Yallourn open-cut station, initially via 132 kV transmission lines to Richmond (120 km) and Yarraville (160 km).

 

There were 590 towers on the Yarraville circuit, and 426 to Richmond. using reinforced aluminium cable.

 

THE HV NETWORK

The HV Terminal Station at the end of Blackburn Rd is an SP AUSNET facility, commissioned in 1967, and is an important link for the transmission of electricity along Melbourne's Eastern Energy Corridor. Many of the Parks and Reserves in the Yarra Valley Parklands were built on the wide cleared reservations when the pylons were constructed.

 

There are four Lines terminating at the complex

 

• Line 1 to the Thomastown Terminal Station (220 kV)

• Line 2 to the Eltham Terminal Station

• Line 3 to the Ringwood Terminal Station (220 kV)

• Line 4 to the Rowville Terminal Station (linking with the

       big feeder lines from the Gippsland power station).

 

A smaller (66 kV) line to the Kew Terminal Station branches off from Line 1 in the Westerfolds Reserve.

 

Access to the transmission line easements is needed for maintenance and vegetation management.

 

Suggestions have been made in the past to place these high voltage powerlines underground, but at present this is impractical because of the considerable cost and archaeological impact.