Crews completing planned maintenance on Magnetic Island
Magnetic Island network upgrade
We’re investing in a range of changes and upgrades to the electricity network supplying Magnetic Island, to improve the reliability of the supply and reduce our impacts on the island’s precious environment.
Magnetic Island is a tropical paradise located around 8km offshore to the north-east of Townsville on Yunbenun Country - the traditional lands of the Wulgurukaba ‘canoe people’.
The island is home to over 2,100 residential and business customers, who predominantly reside in one of the four main bayside communities of Nelly, Picnic, Arcadia, and Horseshoe Bays.
Magnetic Island’s electricity is supplied by two 11,000-volt (11kV) marine cables from the Townsville Marina substation on the mainland at Townsville. The cables then supply the island’s electricity needs via the overhead electricity network from Nelly Bay.
In addition to a significant program of planned maintenance, and upgrades to sections of the low voltage network that were completed recently on the island, we’re planning a series of projects that will boost the safety and reliability of the local electricity network and improve environmental outcomes for the island. These projects include:
Arcadia & Nelly Bay network augmentation works - Upgrade several power poles, cross arms and network hardware in Arcadia and Nelly Bay, install a new switch, and reconductor over 400 metres of 11,000-volt powerline. This component of the project was completed in 2024.
Townsville Marina cable upgrades - Upgrade one of the 11,000-volt cables at Townsville Marina substation on The Strand foreshore to improve thermal ratings and the capacity of these cables that supply electricity to Magnetic Island. This part of the project was completed in February 2025.
Nelly Bay to Arcadia Bay cable relocation - Relocate a section of the overhead 11,000-volt powerline (between Nelly Bay and Arcadia Bay) that traverses the Magnetic Island National Park and installing an underground cable to replace this section. This project will improve access and reduce the impact of our operations on the environment. These works are scheduled to commence in mid-2025.
Nelly Bay to Picnic Bay cable relocation - Relocate a section of the overhead 11,000-volt powerline (between Nelly Bay and Picnic Bay) that traverses the Magnetic Island National Park. This project will improve access to the powerline during maintenance and fault response activities and reduce the impact of our operations on the environment in the National Park. These works are still in the design phase.
Keeping you informed
You can keep up to date and provide feedback on the latest project activities through the following information.
Newsletters
Download the newsletters about the project.
- Project Newsletter - December 2025 (PDF 1.4 mb)
- Project Newsletter - October 2025 (PDF 1.6 mb)
- Project Newsletter - August 2025 (PDF 1.3 mb)
- Project Newsletter - May 2025 (PDF 1.4 mb)
- Project Construction Notice - January 2025 (PDF 956.9 kb)
- Project Newsletter - December 2024 (PDF 830.8 kb)
- Project Construction Notice - November 2024 (PDF 1.7 mb)
- Project Announcement Flyer (PDF 650.5 kb)
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Videos
CHOPPER IN ACTION: removing power towers and wires from Aussie national park
Skip to descriptionThe Magnetic Island network upgrade is all about improving reliability here on Magnetic Island.
We're doing the works in stages. We're upgrading poles and cross arms and other equipment. Probably the coolest part of the project, the crux of the project is removing the lines that go into the National Park. The most efficient way to remove the powerlines and the steel towers that are holding them up that traverse the National Park is using choppers.
Access into the National Park is really difficult and we also want to make sure that we're doing it as quickly and efficiently as possible to minimise the impact on the community, the residents, but also on the National Park.
The foundation of one of the towers has 1971 imprinted in it, so they've stood the test of time. But now that we're looking to upgrade, it's more sensible to relocate those out of the National Park. It's better for the environment, it's easier access for our crews and of course we don't have the impacts on reliability that we might have running through the park so excellent outcomes for everyone.
It's a magic spot and we can see why people flock here to live, and tourists, beautiful wildlife. We've seen kites, we've seen eagles. On the job where we were putting a couple of new poles in earlier in the week there was a beautiful koala and bubby. who were site supervising, you know, as we did the works.
We're really conscious of the wildlife in our working environment and I can tell you everyone's on the lookout for any wildlife and we make sure we incorporate that in our job plans. Last thing we want to do is disturb any wildlife. We think it's as beautiful as everyone else. That's one of the key parts to why we want to relocate the lines out of the National Park.
Obviously, there's access concerns for our crews to get in there quickly and repair or to maintain those powerlines. But ultimately we want to make sure that the environment that we're operating in, that the network is in, we're not impacting that either for the wildlife or for the vegetation around.
So it makes sense to relocate those lines out of the National Park. And it's bonus that obviously reliability's improving as well.
We are so thankful for the residents of Magnetic Island and their patience. They've been really interested and it is really cool to see the chopper operators pulling the lines out, bringing the towers out of the National Park. It's really cool.
It's like all infrastructure upgrades, there's a little bit of pain while it's happening. But we plan our jobs to minimise any interruptions and ultimately there's a great benefit at the end of the work.
So we're very thankful for everyone's patience and thanks very much to the community.
Removing steel towers and powerlines from a national park is no mean feat and we’ve gone to great lengths on Magnetic Island, using choppers to get the job done more efficiently in a sensitive environment. It’s part of a wider electricity network upgrade that will boost power reliability and environmental protection on the island.
Photo gallery
Our designers scoping the work along Nelly Bay Road
Scoping in the National Park at Picnic Bay
Engaging with stakeholders as we scope works at Townsville Marina substation
Our community engagement goal
We aim to provide the community with balanced and objective information to help in understanding the need for this project, our delivery approach and how it may affect people.
Our promise
We'll keep the local community informed, and we’ll acknowledge and consider any feedback.
We'll provide information in different ways including, but not limited to:
- project newsletters to all who register for updates
- posting information on social media
- posting information on this website.
Project information and contact details
For more information or to provide us feedback, please contact the project team:
Email: NetworkProjectEngagement@energyq.com.au
Phone: 1300 653 055