Waterloo to Surry Hills cable project

Ausgrid is installing a new cable route between Ausgrid’s substations in Allen Street, Waterloo and Ann Street, Surry Hills.

These substations are supplied by existing fluid-filled underground 132kV cables. The cables are approximately 40 years old and nearing the end of their serviceable life.
This project is part of a program to retire fluid-filled cables across our network.

Planning cable projects:

There are a range of factors to consider when planning cable routes. These include:

• public health and safety;
• environmental and social impacts;
• traffic considerations;
• technical feasibility;
• available space around existing underground utility services; and
• cost (minimising impact on your electricity bills).

Ausgrid has completed the process of engaging with key stakeholders to obtain early feedback on the preferred cable route.

Ausgrid has completed the process of engaging with key stakeholders to obtain early feedback on the preferred cable route. Ausgrid started engaging with key stakeholders, such as the City of Sydney Council, in late-2021 to obtain early feedback on the preferred cable route.

Engagement with residents and businesses along and around the preferred cable route started in February 2022 when the first project newsletter was distributed. A copy of the newsletter can be found under ‘related documents’ at the bottom of this page.

On the 2 and 3 of March 2022, we held two online information sessions to seek local information and community feedback on the preferred cable route. Interested community members were invited to the information session through our project newsletter. 

The REF was publicly exhibited on Ausgrid’s website from 9^th September to 10th October 2022. All feedback is being considered prior to the project being assessed for approval.

Feedback received has been reviewed and have been considered in key project decisions, where possible.

You are welcome to contact us with any enquiries via phone 1800 604 765 (free call), or email majorprojects@ausgrid.com.au.

Community feedback assists us to identify potential issues and address them in our construction plans to minimise impacts.

Under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, Ausgrid is the determining authority for this project. As part of the REF process, an environmental assessment (known as a Review of Environmental Factors, or REF) has been prepared to assess the potential environmental impacts associated with the decommissioning of the existing cable and installation, operation, and maintenance of the new cable. 

REF Determination Report

Waterloo to Surry Hills Cable Project project - Review of Environmental Factors Report (REF 338) - main document

Appendix A - Drawings and plans

Appendix B - Consultation Documentation

Appendix C - Magnetic Fields Report

Appendix D - Waste and Geotechnical Classification Report

Appendix D - Preliminary Waste Classification

Appendix E - Arboricultural Investigation

Appendix F - Archaeological Assessment and Impact Statement

Appendix G - Noise Impact Assessment

This project will involve installing the new conduits and cables through streets between Waterloo and Surry Hills.

This work will involve:

• Digging trenches in roads to lay conduits (plastic pipes) to accommodate the new cable.
• Backfilling trenches and temporary resurfacing of impacted areas (trenching and temporary resurfacing takes about three days outside each property depending on ground and weather conditions).
• Excavating underground joint bays at various locations along the cable route.
• Feeding in and joining sections of cable at the joint bay locations.
• Permanently restoring impacted areas, in consultation with Council, Transport for NSW and other roads authorities once the overall project is complete.

Retiring the existing cables will include:

Retiring the existing cables between the substations would involve some work at various locations along that cable route and at the substations themselves.

This work will involve:

• Excavating existing joint bays along the cable route.
• Removing cable equipment.
• Disconnecting and removing fluid from the cables.

As with any construction site, there will be some impacts including noise and dust. Ausgrid will make every effort to keep this to a minimum and will finish the work as quickly as possible. There will be temporary traffic, access, and parking disruptions along the cable route during construction. We will make every effort to keep these to a minimum.

The timeline included on this website provides an overview of the project and community engagement stages.

Ausgrid will keep the community informed as the project progresses via newsletter updates and notification letters.

Construction works began in early 2023 and are expected to be completed by late 2024.