New work has progressed on HumeLink, one of Australia’s most significant transmission infrastructure projects – a $5 billion network upgrade that will connect Snowy Hydro 2.0 and multiple Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) into the National Electricity Market.
Once fully complete, HumeLink will form a critical section of the east-coast transmission backbone, linking generation from South Australia through to northern Queensland and unlocking gigawatts of renewable capacity for Australian homes and businesses.
Major construction milestones
The joint venture between UGL and CPB Contractors has been delivering the western section of the project, achieving several key milestones in recent months, including:
- Foundation piling for the first transmission tower – establishing the platform for 140 kilometres of new high-voltage lines.
- Construction of access infrastructure – with around 30 access points built and 70 kilometres of new or upgraded access tracks completed to support delivery.
- Establishment of materials laydown areas – at Gugaa, Ellerslie and near Batlow to streamline tower assembly and logistics.
- Completion of the Tarcutta worker accommodation camp – with the Kunama facility due for completion in November.
- Commencement of two 500 kilovolt substations — one at Maragle to enable the connection to the Snowy Hydro 2.0 grid, and another at Gugaa, which will become a central transmission hub for the Riverina region.
Strengthening grid reliability and renewable integration
HumeLink is designed to support the rapid integration of renewable energy into the grid, increasing transmission capacity and reliability while reducing network congestion. It represents a major step toward meeting Australia’s 82 per cent renewable-electricity target by 2030.
With work now progressing across multiple construction fronts, Transgrid and its delivery partners are helping to build the backbone of Australia’s clean-energy future. In turn, this will create skilled regional jobs, support local suppliers, and enable the energy transition at scale.
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