Work is underway to install new high voltage power cables under Sydney’s Cooks River as part of a multimillion-dollar Ausgrid project to replace the underground electricity network in city’s inner west and southern suburbs. Ausgrid crews plan to carry out two horizontal directional drills (HDD) below the river bed between Earlwood and Marrickville as part of the $214 million project.
The crossing will carry six 132-kV cables to connect a major electricity supply point in Sydney’s inner west to Ausgrid substations in Canterbury, Marrickville, Rockdale and Kogarah via a 22 km cable route. The project will help power more than 50,000 homes and businesses in Sydney’s south and inner west.
Ausgrid General Manager Transmission Trevor Armstrong said the project was one of the largest replacement projects for the state. “The existing cables connecting these substations were installed about 40 years ago,” Mr Armstrong said. “This equipment has performed well over the years but needs to be replaced to help maintain a reliable supply of electricity to homes and businesses in the area. “Once complete, these new cables will form the backbone of the area’s electricity network.”
Specialist crews have already completed a number of micro-tunnels and HDD’s at locations such as Muddy Creek in Rockdale, Hattersley Street in Banksia, and Meeks Road in Marrickville. Micro-tunnelling and horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technologies to cross creeks, rivers and rail lines were chosen to reduce the impact on the surrounding environment and community.
“Specialist crews have been working progressively through the streets of Sydney’s south and inner west for the past 12 months to install about 22 route kilometers of new transmission cables,” Armstrong said. “We’ve been working with the RMS and local councils to minimize the impact on traffic and to keep the local community informed of the work as we pass through their area.”
