More than half a million homes and businesses in Sydney’s inner suburbs will have more reliable power, with TransGrid’s $285 million Powering Sydney’s Future project getting the green light today from the NSW Government.
Energy Minister Matt Kean said the upgraded infrastructure will provide additional security of supply during peak demand periods.
“Parts of Sydney’s transmission and distribution networks are reaching their end of life, so this project will play a crucial role in ensuring a continuous and reliable energy supply for our communities,” Mr Kean said.
“The new infrastructure includes a 20km high-voltage underground transmission cable that will run between the Rookwood Road substation in Potts Hill and the Beaconsfield West substation in Alexandria.”
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said Powering Sydney’s Future is the 15th project to be determined through the Planning System Acceleration Program that is fast-tracking project assessments to keep people in jobs and the economy moving during COVID-19.
“The Powering Sydney’s Future project will create 140 new construction jobs, inject $285 million into the NSW economy and be shovel ready within the next two months,” Mr Stokes said.
“This project will also deliver vital new energy infrastructure for the growing number of Sydneysiders that live, work and play in our inner and central suburbs.”
As part of the approval TransGrid will be required to minimise impacts to mature tree canopy, and plant at least two trees for every one removed during construction.
In the past three weeks, the Planning System Acceleration Program has injected almost $2.7 billion into the State’s economy and enabled the creation of more than 17,500 jobs right across NSW.
