Australia-based company GenusPlus Group (Genus) has obtained formal approval to begin construction on the North West Transmission Developments (NWTD) Stage 1 project for the Tasmanian government’s TasNetworks.
The confirmation follows the fulfilment of all conditions attached to the project’s construction phase, with TasNetworks issuing a Notice to Proceed to Genus.
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The NWTD Stage 1 project, part of Tasmania’s contribution to supporting renewable energy demand, involves a significant upgrade to the state’s transmission infrastructure.
The construction phase is scheduled to begin immediately, with completion targeted for 2029.
Genus reported that the entire contract, which also includes previous Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) and Early Works Agreements (EWA), has a value of approximately A$750m ($537m).
The ECI and EWA phases accounted for A$122m of that total, including the procurement of long-lead items.
The main works will involve designing, procuring and building a new dual-circuit 220kV transmission line running from Palmerston to Sheffield, Sheffield to Heybridge, and Heybridge to Burnie.
The existing single-circuit 220kV transmission lines between Palmerston and Sheffield, and between Sheffield and Burnie, will be decommissioned and removed.
There will also be augmentation works at Palmerston, Sheffield, and Burnie substations, as well as the construction of a new Heybridge Switching Station to allow Marinus Link’s connection to Tasmania’s 220kV network.
The project scope includes pre-commissioning and commissioning activities.
Genus managing director David Riches said: “Genus has worked closely with TasNetworks to reach this important milestone, and with the start of construction imminent, we’re proud to move into the next phase of delivering this critical infrastructure for Tasmania and Australia.
“We’re committed to creating opportunities for Tasmanians throughout the project, from employing local people to engaging Tasmanian businesses and suppliers. By combining Genus’ capability and experience with local knowledge and expertise, we can deliver lasting value for the community.”
The NWTD initiative supports the connection of Marinus Link Stage 1 and the anticipated growth in renewable energy supply in Tasmania and the National Electricity Market.
