What if the biggest shift in Australia’s energy future is not coming, but already underway?
In regional New South Wales, HumeLink West is transforming how power moves across the grid.
The project's momentum was on display as the HumeLink West team recently hosted Minister for Energy Penny Sharpe MLC at the Wagga Wagga and Gugaa substations. The visit reflected growing interest in the project's progress and role in supporting Australia's energy transition.
Safety-led progress
Safety-led progress is visible across the project.
At the Wagga Wagga end of the 140-kilometre alignment, conductor stringing has officially begun, marking a major milestone as the transmission line starts to take shape.
At the same time, tower construction continues to advance. The assembly and erection (A&E) team has been strengthened with additional supervisors and personnel to support the safe and efficient delivery of the remaining 300 towers.
Innovation supporting delivery
Innovation on site continues to support project delivery. A successful foundation construction trial near Batlow and Maragle is expected to improve installation timeframes across multiple sites and help maintain program certainty.
Substations taking shape
At Maragle Substation, significant milestones are being achieved:
- Transformer and reactor concrete pours are now complete
- Foundation works continue, with around 25% of the nearly 1,000 cubic metres poured
- More than 50 tonnes of gantry steel has been erected, around 15% of the total required
At Gugaa Substation, progress is further advanced:
- All transformer and reactor concrete works are complete
- Both reactors are installed
- Concrete piling is finished
- Gantry steel erection has exceeded 260 tonnes, approaching the halfway point of the 605-tonne total
At Wagga Wagga Substation, the team is preparing for the second of five planned outages, critical steps towards safely integrating new infrastructure into the existing network.
Delivering the energy transition
Delivered through a joint venture between CIMIC Group companies UGL and CPB Contractors for Transgrid, HumeLink West brings together industry-leading capability at a pivotal time.
As one of Australia's most significant energy transmission projects, HumeLink West is helping transform the way energy flows across the National Electricity Market, supporting renewable generation, strengthening network reliability and helping meet the demands of a changing energy landscape.