Concord substation upgrade

MARCH TO APRIL 2020

Concept planning and obtaining community and stakeholder feedback.

APRIL TO MAY 2020

Preparing Review of Environmental Factors and displaying for public comment.

MID 2020 TO EARLY 2021

Completion of design, project approved for construction and contractor appointed.

EARLY 2021 TO LATE 2021

 Construction work to upgrade substation.

LATE 2021 TO MID 2022

Installing equipment inside new switchroom building.

MID 2022 TO LATE 2023

Electrical connections between new switchroom and surrounding network and decommissioning existing switchgear.

Ausgrid is currently in the early planning stages. As part of this process, we have commenced consultation with key stakeholders and the community in the area.

We have engaged architectural specialists, Kann Finch, to prepare preliminary architectural designs of the proposed switchroom building to assist with consultation and the environmental assessment.

As part of the process to develop preliminary designs for the new switchroom building, Ausgrid and Kann Finch are considering a range of factors including:

• technical requirements and constructability
• environmental issues
• community feedback
• cost (minimising increases to customer electricity bills).

Ausgrid is the determining authority for these works under the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979. As part of the approvals process, an environmental assessment (known as a Review of Environmental Factors of REF) is being prepared which involves input from community members, the City of Canada Bay Council and other authorities.

Potential impacts are being assessed as part of the REF and measures put in place to minimise impact to the local environment.

Concord Substation Project - Review of Environmental Factors (REF)

Appendix A - drawings

Appendix B - consultation documents

Appendix C - Contamination Waste and Geotech Report

Appendix D - Construction Noise Impact Assessment

Appendix D - Noise Modelling Report

Appendix E - Electric and Magnetic Field Modelling

Appendix F - Arbor Assessment

Appendix F - Ecological Assessment

If you have any questions about any of the issues raised in the REF, please let us know.  Our contact details are at the top right hand side of this page.

As the project progresses, we plan to share two concept designs for the new switchroom building with key stakeholders and the community near the proposed site. All feedback received will be taken into consideration as part of the planning process. We will provide further updates as we progress.

Planning                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              We have involved the community in the detailed planning of the proposal. Our approach has been to, together with architectural specialists, Kann Finch prepare two concept designs of the proposed building.

We look to balance community feedback with other project considerations in finalising the design and the construction program. We have been doing this by keeping the dialogue open between the Project Team and members of the community via letterbox drops, emails, webpage updates, and hotline interactions.

In April, Ausgrid invited businesses and residents adjacent to the substation to have their say and provide feedback on the two concept designs.

Since then, we have been continuing to plan the project and work towards selecting a final design.

For more information on community consultation during the planning stage, please refer to the FAQs document located at the bottom of this page

Considered impacts
As part of our planning, we have considered a range of factors including electrical requirements, environment and heritage, community and traffic impacts, constructability and cost.

In considering the visual impact to the surrounding community, the building has been designed to reflect the local area.

Feedback
Ausgrid is now inviting the community to review the proposed substation design, ask any questions and provide feedback.

Like on any construction site, issues such as noise and dust – as a result of work on and around the site, will be carefully managed.

Ausgrid work hours are 7am to 6pm on weekdays, and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays with no work on Sundays or public holidays. If we need to do any work outside these hours, we will notify nearby neighbours in advance.

Please note that the Concord substation will remain in service for the duration of the project. Normal day-to-day operations will continue to maintain electrical supply.

Should you have any questions about the substation upgrade, please contact us at majorprojects@ausgrid.com.au or alternatively phone 1800 604 765.