The NSW Government have given the go ahead to TransGrid Powering Sydney’s Future project, which hopes to provide more consistent and reliable power to Sydney’s inner suburbs.

NSW Energy Minister, Matt Kean, commented that the upgraded power infrastructure will provide additional security of supply during peak demand periods for more than half a million homes and businesses.

“Parts of Sydney’s transmission and distribution networks are reaching their end of life, so this project will play a crucial role in ensuring a continuous and reliable energy supply for our communities,” Mr Kean said.

The new infrastructure consists of a 20km high-voltage underground transmission cable that will be located between the Rookwood Road substation in Potts Hill and the Beaconsfield West substation in Alexandria.

A condition for being given the green light has been placed on TransGrid. The firm will be required to minimise impacts to mature tree canopy, and plant at least two trees for every one removed during construction.

The project is expected to create 140 new construction jobs, inject $285 million into the NSW economy and be shovel ready within two months of 18 May.

Powering Sydney’s Future is the 15th project to be determined through the Planning System Acceleration Program, which is fast-tracking project assessments to keep people in jobs and the economy moving during COVID-19.

Over May 2020, the Planning System Acceleration Program has injected almost $2.7 billion into the state’s economy and enabled the creation of more than 17,500 jobs right across NSW.