Alexandria substation project

The new substation will enable Ausgrid to maintain a safe and reliable power supply for the area in the future. Ausgrid has identified a new sub transmission substation is required to supply businesses in the surrounding areas as well as the Sydney Airport and international Sydney Airport substations.

Construction began in March 2016 and work on the building structure is expected to be finished by the end of 2016.

This will be followed by the installation of equipment, testing and connection to the electricity network, with work overall due to be completed in late 2017.

The substation has been designed to reflect the industrial character of the local area. Most of the new electrical equipment will be housed within a building, with larger equipment, known as transformers, located behind three blade walls. The building façade and transformer walls will be off-form precast concrete and visible from Bourke Road.

Under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, Ausgrid is the determining authority for this project. An environmental assessment (known as a Review of Environmental Factors or REF) has been prepared in accordance with Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and Clause 228 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000.

The REF investigates the potential environmental impacts associated with the construction, operation and maintenance of the proposed substation. It also recommends mitigation measures as required to ensure any impacts are at acceptable levels.

Ausgrid has assessed the project for construction approval based on information contained in the REF and any other relevant documents

Like on any construction site there will be typical building impacts such as noise and dust as a result of work on and around the site. Any potential impacts have been assessed as part of an environmental assessment (known as a Review of Environmental Factors or REF) and measures put in place to minimise impacts on the local environment.

The work with the highest impact will be during the first six months of construction with activities such as earthworks and concrete pours being done. Installation of new equipment within the new structure is usually of a lower impact with staff working predominantly within the new building structure.

Ausgrid does not plan to interrupt local electricity supplies as part of construction of the new substation.