Welcome to our first community newsletter for Marinus Link.
Marinus Link is a proposed 1500 megawatt (MW) capacity underground and undersea interconnector between Victoria and Tasmania. It is supported by over 230km of transmission developments in North West Tasmania. Collectively, these projects are known as Project Marinus.
The project will provide Victoria and other states across the National Electricity Market (NEM) with access to Tasmania’s significant dispatchable renewable energy generation and storage resources, keeping lights on and putting downward pressure on prices.
Marinus Link will have the capacity to secure power supply for up to 1.5 million homes at any given point in time.
Gippsland community information sessions
Thank you to everyone who attended the information sessions held both online and in person at Sandy Point, Meeniyan, Mirboo North, Morwell and Farm World during January-March. Over 400 people attended and shared feedback about the project and the proposed route. These are the first of many sessions we will be holding in the region, recognising COVID-19 and recent flood events have proven challenging over the past few months. We are planning further community engagement sessions across South Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley from late August.
The Marinus Link team is committed to listening and learning from the local community. We’re working closely with many landowners to manage their concerns and consider ideas, and will work with other projects in the area to manage shared impacts and create local benefits. We are currently working on establishing a Stakeholder Liaison Group as a further means to engage with key representatives of Gippsland.
To receive email updates about upcoming events, we encourage you to register at engage.marinuslink.com.au.
Landowner and community support
The proposed underground cable route runs through private and public land in Gippsland. Every private landowner, who is directly impacted by the proposed route, has a dedicated land agent, and we are committed to working with landowners to understand how they use their land, so that impacts can be reduced where possible.
To support the wellbeing of landowners and their households, we have partnered with New View Psychology to provide access to free and independent counselling services.
Our team on the ground saw firsthand the impact the recent floods had on the Gippsland community. We partnered with Need for Feed to donate hay to farmers affected by the floods and organised a donation to the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund and the SES to help recovery efforts. It hasv been amazing to witness your resilience to these events. The Marinus Link team is committed to supporting the communities we work in.
In the field
The proposed underground cable route runs through private and public land in South Gippsland. Every private landowner, who is directly impacted by the proposed route, has a dedicated land agent, and we are committed to working with landowners to understand how they use their land, so that impacts can be reduced where possible.
We are in discussions with the Aboriginal community to explore partnership and participation opportunities. To support the wellbeing of landowners and their households, we have partnered with New View Psychology to provide access to free and independent counselling services.
Our team on the ground saw firsthand the impact the recent floods had on the Gippsland community. We partnered with Need for Feed to donate hay to farmers affected by the floods and organised a donation to the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund and the SES to help recovery efforts. It has been amazing to witness your resilience and spirit in the face of these events. The Marinus Link team is committed to supporting the community.
Answering your questions
We’re receiving some great questions from landowners and the community about the project. Here are responses to some of the questions we’re commonly asked:
Why is Marinus Link needed?
Australia’s National Electricity Market is experiencing rapid change. Strategic infrastructure developments are needed to ensure access to affordable, reliable and clean energy. Marinus Link is recognised by the Australian Energy Market Operator and Infrastructure Australia as a project of national significance. The project is critical in supporting Australia’s contribution to global emissions reductions while meeting the energy needs of homes, businesses, schools and hospitals in our communities.
How does the project stack up?
The project has been through thorough Feasibility and Business Case Assessments, including a detailed cost benefit analysis (called a Regulatory Investment Test for Transmission), as required by the Australian Energy Regulator. These assessments and tests demonstrated that the benefits of the project will outweigh the costs under a range of future scenarios. These reports are available at
marinuslink.com.au.
Is the proposed route the final route?
The route will continue to be refined throughout the design and approvals phase of the project as we collect more information through field surveys and conversations with landowners and the community.
There will be several opportunities to provide feedback about the project throughout this phase, such as making a formal submission as part of the assessment and approvals process. We will keep you updated about these opportunities via our newsletters, newspaper notices, our website, and regular email updates available by registering at engage.marinuslink.com.au.
Who is developing Marinus Link?
Marinus Link is being progressed by TasNetworks, with funding support from the Australian and Tasmanian Governments. TasNetworks is a regulated government electricity network business owned by the State of Tasmania.
The Tasmanian and Australian Governments have now entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide further financial support to the project through the remainder of the design and approvals phase.
What are the benefits of the project to Gippsland and Victoria?
We’re working to ensure that Marinus Link benefits local communities by partnering with local industries and businesses, fostering local workforce and skills development and creating jobs. We are committed to continuing these efforts into the future. Benefits at a glance:
- 1400 jobs created through construction over 6 years
- $1.5 billion of investment in the region
- Downward pressure on power prices
- Helping Victoria meet its renewable energy and emissions reduction targets
How is Marinus Link related to the Delburn Wind Farm development?
Marinus Link has no relation to or reliance on outcomes related to the proposed Delburn Wind Farm development. The proposed Delburn Wind Farm is being progressed by OSMI Australia in partnership with Cubico Sustainable Developments. Marinus Link is being progressed and funded by the Tasmanian State Government and the Australian Government.
How is Marinus Link related to the Star of the South project?
While Star of the South and Marinus Link are completely separate projects, we have factored Star of the South into our cost benefit analysis. Marinus Link will support the Star of the South wind farm with dispatachable energy to top up output and storage capacity and take on excess generation.
It’s important to note that Star of the South and Marinus link are geographically separate; Star of the South sits on the eastern side of Wilsons Promontory in close proximity to the existing Basslink connection, while Marinus Link sits on the western side of Wilsons Promontory.
Who will pay for Marinus Link?
New pricing arrangements will need to be agreed to achieve fair pricing outcomes. A fair cost allocation method for interconnectors is being investigated by the Energy National Cabinet Reform Committee. Independent economic analysis shows that customers will benefit from lower wholesale energy prices in a future grid with Marinus Link, compared to a future without it. For Marinus Link and supporting transmission developments in North West Tasmania to proceed, an appropriate pricing outcome is required.
Project timeline
The project is currently in the design and approvals phase. Consultation with landowners is underway, and the proposed route has been released for widespread consultation with communities and broader industry and government stakeholders. Over the coming months, our team will continue to further refine the proposed route by undertaking field investigations and working with landowners, the community and broader stakeholders.
