East Wanneroo residents say their concerns over Western Power’s plans to install 171 steel transmission poles, each about 20 metres tall, through the suburb remain unresolved.
They want the proposed 132kV transmission route moved further east to reduce its impact on the area.
The energy provider is pushing ahead with the 24km project, which would run from Neerabup terminal to Wangara substation primarily through a corridor between Lake Gnangara and Jandabup Lake, despite opposition from residents and the City of Wanneroo.
The project forms part of the State Government-funded Clean Energy Link – North program, which aims to expand WA’s power grid to deliver more renewable energy from the Mid West to Perth.
Both locals and the city believe the route should be moved further east to align with the future Yanchep-Whiteman highway corridor due to amenity and environmental concerns.
Katie Green from the East Wanneroo District Residents Association told the Northern Suburbs Weekly she believed residents’ concerns were not being adequately addressed.
“The whole way through, for the past year, they’ve just been telling us that this is what’s going to be happening,” Ms Green said.
“There was no genuine consultation where they actually listened to our feedback and changed any of their plans. They’ve just been telling us that this is what’s going to be happening.”
Over the next 50 years, the State Government hopes to have up to 50,000 new homes built in East Wanneroo to accommodate 150,000 residents, alongside six high schools and more than 30 primary schools.
Ms Green said the proposed route clashed with the vision for East Wanneroo’s future, a concern also raised by the City of Wanneroo and its mayor.
“We all live out here to enjoy the natural landscape, and it just seemed ridiculous that they were going to be putting such huge power lines straight through a residential area,” Ms Green said.
“(The State Government) is pushing for development there, but at the same time they’re going ahead with these transmission lines. It doesn’t make sense at all.”
She said the association had repeatedly asked Western Power to release the reports outlining how it selected the route, but they had not been provided to residents.
“They are justifying it by saying they’ve reviewed multiple route options, and that this route has the least impact environmentally, socially and economically, but they haven’t released any information to us about the financials,” she said.
“They just have their one goal, which is to get power from these wind turbines, and they don’t care for any casualties that they have along the way.”
WA shadow minister for energy Steve Thomas said Western Power should be more upfront with residents about why less disruptive routes were not being used, if they were available.
“Of course, Western Power must ensure electricity gets from where it’s generated to where it’s needed, but that cannot come at the expense of proper planning and genuine community consultation,” he said.
“Residents are entitled to know why transmission lines are being proposed through their neighbourhoods, what alternatives have been considered and why those alternatives have been rejected.”
According to Western Power, it had been engaging with potentially affected landowners since July 2025, with feedback gathered through one-on-one meetings and correspondence used to refine the route where possible.
A spokesperson for the network operator said alternative routes further east were considered but ruled out due to factors such as cost and the potential for a future transit corridor, which could include rail.
“The Wangara substation to Neerabup terminal 132kV line route aligns with long-term plans for the area, such as the East Wanneroo district structure plan, planned transport corridors, and supports long-term development of the area while reducing broader community impacts and balancing project costs,” the spokesperson said.
“The route selected provided the best balance of supporting future growth in the area, minimising environmental and community impact and responsibly managing cost.
“Alignment further east, along the proposed Yanchep-Whiteman highway, was not supported due to planning protections for the future transport corridor.”
They also said a route through the Gnangara Pines had been considered but ruled out due to its potential impact on Carnaby’s black cockatoo foraging habitat and environmentally sensitive areas.
Public consultation on the proposed native vegetation clearing permit for the transmission line project is currently open through the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.
The City of Wanneroo has formally objected to plans, which is seeking to clear 14ha of native vegetation across a 75ha area spanning Mariginiup, Pearsall, Pinjar, Wangara, Gnangara, Woodvale, Wanneroo and Jandabup.
“The proposal introduces unmitigated risks to sensitive ecological assets, including critically endangered fauna, threatened ecological communities, and regionally significant bush forever sites,” Wanneroo’s director of planning and sustainability Mark Dickson said in the objection letter.
“The city’s preferred position is that the alignment be moved further to the east within the planning control area of the future Whiteman/Yanchep highway.
“If the infrastructure is to be aligned through East Wanneroo, then this should be undergrounded where adjacent to existing or future housing.”
Public comment on the proposed native vegetation clearing permit closes today, Thursday, October 15.
As part of the Clean Energy Link project, construction began last month on a 6km underground transmission line between Padbury and Wangara substations.
If the proposed 24km transmission line through East Wanneroo clears its final environmental hurdles, Western Power hopes to begin construction in early 2027 and have it completed by the end of that year.