Shaw River Power Station Project

Shaw River Power Station Pty Ltd (Shaw River Power), a wholly owned subsidiary of Santos Ltd , is proposing to develop a gas-fired power station near Orford in western Victoria. The proposal will also involve the development of an approximately 100-kilometre underground gas transmission pipeline from Iona (near Port Campbell) to the power station, and is planned to come into service in around 2012. 

Image source: EDAW Australia Pty Ltd

The power station will be developed in stages to a peak capacity of 1,500 MW, and will operate as a baseload, intermediate or peaking generator. It will connect to the Victorian electricity grid via a switchyard adjacent to the Moorabool-Portland 500kV overhead transmission line. It is likely to be supplied with gas from Santos' gas reserves in the Otway and Gippsland Basins offshore Victoria, and other basins in eastern Australia.

The proposed power station uses proven technology and will produce significantly lower carbon emissions (up to 70% less) and use less than 1% of the water per megawatt hour compared with traditional wet cooled brown coal-fired power stations.

On 7 November 2008 the Victorian Minister for Planning confirmed that an Environmental Effects Statement (EES) was required for the proposed development.

A very important part of the EES process is stakeholder engagement and community consultation. Santos is committed to ensuring that stakeholders, surrounding communities and others interested in the development are kept informed, through:

• information bulletins, published periodically, outlining key project issues and information
• an information hotline (freecall 1800 736 113)
• this website www.shawriverpowerstation.com.au which will include project updates and copies of the information bulletin
• an email address for enquiries: info@shawriverpowerstation.com.au
• information sessions and public displays in towns and communities in the area.

The first round of community consultations occurred during September 2008. A total of 270 people attended the displays in Orford, Port Fairy, Koroit, Warrnambool, Wangoom, Naringal, Nullaware, Macarthur, Mailors Flat and Port Campbell

While most of the feedback from the surrounding community was positive, there were concerns from local residents about the potential impact of the proposal on noise and air emissions, particularly those in the Macarthur, Orford region.

The second round of community consultation occurred during May 2009, when the findings of the specialist environmental studies were presented.

The EES exhibition commenced on 12 March 2010 and the third round of community consultation will be held between 16 and 18 March 2010.