The Project
As part of the Genex Kidston Renewable Energy Hub, Powerlink Queensland was engaged to deliver new high-voltage transmission infrastructure connecting the Kidston site to the national electricity grid. The Genex Kidston Connection Project involves a 275 kV single circuit transmission line extending approximately 186 kilometres between Kidston and Mount Fox, along with a new switching station at Mount Fox. To support the project’s environmental approval obligations, Powerlink commissioned e2m to identify and assess suitable biodiversity offset areas.
Our Services
e2m was engaged to undertake an offset suitability assessment at Jervoise Station, west of Greenvale. This involved ecological field surveys across the property, including habitat quality assessments to determine its potential to offset significant residual impacts on three nationally threatened species.
Based on the field results, our team developed an Offset Area Management Plan (OAMP) to accompany the project referral under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The plan outlined how the offset would be delivered and managed in accordance with federal policy requirements. The OAMP was subsequently approved by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
In parallel, e2m also assessed adjacent areas for potential offsets to support other Powerlink projects. This included a comprehensive desktop review, targeted threatened species surveys, vegetation condition assessments, and ground-truthing to determine the likelihood of occurrence for Matters of National and State Environmental Significance.
Outcomes
e2m’s work supported a successful environmental approvals process by identifying practical and defensible offset solutions. The Jervoise Station offset area is now under ongoing monitoring, with e2m continuing to conduct annual ecological surveys in line with the approved OAMP. Our team remains a trusted partner in supporting Powerlink’s offset compliance across multiple projects in Queensland.
