We finally have a transmission plan – now we need to cut nature and communities in on the deal
MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday, 18 Sept 2025
The Conservation Council of Western Australia (CCWA) has welcomed today’s release of the new South West Interconnected System (SWIS) Transmission Plan, while warning that critical gaps remain on nature protection and community benefits.
The plan is the first detailed roadmap for expanding and upgrading the state’s main electricity grid to support the rapid shift to renewable energy.
CCWA Better Climate Manager Matt Berry said the plan was an important step forward, given that delays and uncertainty around transmission infrastructure have been one of the biggest bottlenecks slowing down the state’s energy transition.
“We’ve been calling for clear grid plan for a long time, and this is a step in the right direction,” Mr Berry said.
“Transmission is the backbone of the renewable energy transition – without it, we can’t connect new solar and wind projects to the grid, or phase out polluting fossil fuels. However, the way we go about this transition matters just as much as whether we do it at all.”
Despite the significance of the announcement, Mr Berry said CCWA was concerned about major omissions in the plan.
“Western Power’s process to decide where new transmission lines will be built has been completely opaque to date. But the plan released today contains no information about how transmission corridors have been chosen, or how nature and biodiversity will be protected in the development process.
“Protecting the environment gets one sidebar on page 40 of a 46-page document, and it amounts to a vague promise of ‘we’ll be careful, just trust us’. That’s just not good enough.
“Our communities deserve to see the detail - exactly where the lines will be going, how biodiversity is being safeguarded, and what standards are in place to protect our ecosystems.”
“We also note the absence of any measures to ensure that communities hosting transmission infrastructure are properly compensated and able to share in the benefits of the transition.
“This document contains zero mention of compensation or community benefit schemes for people who will live alongside new transmission lines; that’s a huge missed opportunity.
“If you want social licence for the scale of build-out we’re going to need, your plan needs to include fair compensation for burdens, and mechanisms that make sure the benefits of the transition flow back into local towns and regions.”
Earlier this year the State Government released a Draft Guideline on Community Benefits for Renewable Energy Projects, but it excluded transmission infrastructure. With this issue also missing from the plan, Mr Berry said that leaves a glaring hole in the state’s approach to building public trust in the energy transition.
“Social licence isn’t a nice-to-have – it’s one of the most important enablers of the transition,”
“If communities feel like they’re being treated unfairly, projects will stall. That hurts everyone and delays climate action.”
“The release of the SWIS Transmission Plan is a positive milestone, but we now need to see transparency, accountability, and fairness around the project.
“You can do all the energy demand modelling you like, but planning and implementing massive infrastructure projects behind closed doors doesn’t pass the pub test.
“Our regional communities want to be part of this transition. We need to see much more transparent planning, genuine community engagement, and clear commitments on nature protection and community benefits.”
ENDS
Media contact:
John Cooke
0433 679 780