Macquarie Substation Project

Ausgrid needs to build a new sub-transmission substation (STS) to meet a significant increase in demand for electricity for businesses in the area. It is proposed to be an indoor style substation. The new substation will enable Ausgrid to maintain a safe and reliable power supply for the area in the future.

The project will also involve installing new overhead 132,000 volt powerlines to supply the substation as well as 33,000 volt underground cables exiting the substation to provide electricity to customers in the area. Some excavation in the local area would be required to install the 33,000 volt cables.

Since June 2018, Ausgrid has been in consultation with Ryde Council to discuss the proposal and receive early feedback. Earlier this year, Ausgrid conducted site investigations to access the ground conditions and locate existing services in the area. This has helped in considering a number of route options to connect power to the proposed substation, and identify routes for cables exiting the substation.

As a part of the early remediation works, Ausgrid has also undertaken some construction work that involves the removal of fill in front of the existing substation.

Ausgrid is still investigating options for the cable route for the proposed 132,000 volt connection. One of the proposed routes will exit the site from Waterloo Road to the south-east and connect to an existing tower line that passes along the eastern edge of Macquarie Park cemetery.

Some of our major customers will also be working in the vicinity of the proposed substation to connect their cables to our electricity network.

Ongoing community feedback will help Ausgrid plan this project to minimise impacts during construction. As a part of the planning process, Ausgrid has reviewed and considered all feedback received.

The first community newsletter introducing the project was issued to the local community in September 2018 and can be viewed via the link at the bottom of this page.

A second newsletter with project update and information about the environmental assessment (REF) was distributed to the local community in January 2019 and can be viewed via the link at the bottom of this page.

Following feedback from the community and stakeholders, Ausgrid has now prepared the detailed design and the project is ready for construction. Construction is planned to start from July 2019 and continue until 2021. The start of construction notification distributed to the local community can be viewed via the link at the bottom of this page.

Under the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, Ausgrid is the determining authority for this project. This process includes preparing an environmental assessment (Review of Environmental Factors or REF).

The REF investigates the potential environmental impacts associated with the construction, operation and maintenance of the proposed substation.

The REF was on exhibition for comment from 30 January 2019 to 21 February 2019. At this stage, Ausgrid encouraged further feedback from the community through a newsletter, an advert in the local newspaper and social media about the REF display.

Printed copies of the REF were available at North Ryde Library at Ausgrid's office at 570 George Street, Sydney. Interested community members could also view the REF on this web page, where it can still be viewed.

While Ausgrid received no formal submissions during the REF stage, we considered all feedback received via phone calls, emails and face-to-face meetings to date as part of the process of assessing the project for construction approval.

The associated overhead 132,000 volt and underground 33,000 volt cables will be subject to a separate environmental assessment.

Macquarie Park substation project REF - Main document

Macquarie Park substation project - REF Determination Report

Appendices

• Appendix A - Design Drawings and Land Title

• Appendix B - EMF Assessment

• Appendix C - Construction and Operation Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment

• Appendix D - Preliminary Geotechnical Investigation

Like on any construction site there would be typical building impacts such as noise and dust as a result of work on and around the site. Any potential impacts will be 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 most significant impact would typically be during the first twelve months of the project as the builder carries out earthworks and building construction and the works associated with the new underground cables that would connect to the new substation. Installation of new equipment within the new structure would be of lower impact with Ausgrid staff working predominantly within the substation building.

There would also be temporary traffic impacts when the underground cables are being installed in local streets to connect the new substation to the electricity network which we would work to minimise.