The start of full-scale construction on the HumeLink high-voltage electricity transmission project was marked with the erection of the first two transmission towers at Book Book, near Wagga Wagga.
The A$1.4bn ($928.93m) HumeLink development, managed for Transgrid by a joint venture between UGL and CPB Contractors, covers 365km of new transmission lines connecting Wagga Wagga, Bannaby and Maragle in regional New South Wales.
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Once completed, the network will boost electricity transmission capacity across eastern Australia.
The western phase includes 148km of 500kV lines from Maragle to Wagga Wagga, as well as construction of two substations at Gugaa and Maragle.
The scope also involves upgrades at the 330kV Wagga Wagga substation.
The contract for this portion of the project is structured on an incentivised target cost model and is expected to generate over A$1.4bn in revenue for UGL and CPB Contractors.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataHumeLink will rely on more than 800 transmission towers, approximately 52,000 tonnes of structural steel and over 9,300km of high-voltage cabling.
In total, it comprises about 385km of new lines alongside additional infrastructure upgrades.
Designed to link renewable energy sources such as Snowy 2.0 to the grid, HumeLink aims to enable greater integration of renewables into the National Electricity Market.
HumeLink West project director Tim Burns said: “This milestone marks an exciting step forward for our dedicated HumeLink West delivery team. Together with our subcontractor businesses and local supply chain, CPB Contractors and UGL are now focused on safely delivering the remaining 360 towers.
“As we progress, we’ll continue listening and engaging with local communities to ensure they share in the benefits – through jobs, skills and local investment.”
Transgrid appointed UGL and CPB Contractors in December 2023 to deliver engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning for HumeLink’s western corridor.
The project forms part of broader efforts to modernise New South Wales’ electricity network infrastructure.
UGL managing director Doug Moss said: “The importance of this project really can’t be overstated. We are tying the biggest renewable energy project in the country into the grid for the benefit of all Australians. To be part of that is incredibly exciting, and it sets the benchmark for many more projects like this in the future.”
