HumeLink transmission project receives green light, set to transform NSW’s energy landscape

The HumeLink transmission project, a game-changing A$4.8 billion initiative, has received approval from the Minns Labor Government, marking it as one of New South Wales’ most ambitious renewable energy infrastructure efforts. Now awaiting Commonwealth Government approval, this large-scale project promises to boost the state’s renewable energy network, expand job opportunities, and inject billions into the regional economy. HumeLink will stretch over 365 kilometers across southern NSW, connecting critical substations from Wagga Wagga to Bannaby and facilitating clean energy distribution across the state.

With its approval, the project is expected to create 1,600 construction jobs and bring in approximately A$6.3 billion in direct and indirect economic contributions to regional NSW. Upon completion, HumeLink will connect the Snowy Hydro Scheme expansion, Snowy 2.0, delivering an additional 2,200 megawatts of on-demand, renewable energy to New South Wales’ power grid, a move that experts say will be transformative for the state’s energy stability and environmental targets.

HumeLink approval hailed as a critical milestone for NSW’s energy plan

The New South Wales Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) carefully reviewed the project, ensuring compliance with key environmental and social impact guidelines. Transgrid, the project’s proponent, received extensive feedback from DPHI, which imposed conditions to mitigate environmental impact and protect community interests. Among these requirements, Transgrid must implement a Biodiversity Management Plan, which includes a biodiversity offset package with an A$502.3 million bank guarantee. This substantial guarantee aims to preserve the region’s natural habitat and counteract biodiversity losses, an aspect that NSW planning authorities underscored as essential to sustainable development.

Additionally, Transgrid will address the project’s visual impact by consulting with affected landowners, employing vegetation screening, and integrating landscape solutions along the transmission corridors. In response to public submissions, DPHI mandated that Transgrid focus on minimizing disruption, which includes maintaining nearby roadways and monitoring traffic conditions to ensure local roads remain intact throughout construction.

NSW officials underscore significance of the HumeLink project

NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully expressed optimism about HumeLink’s potential to enhance the state’s energy capabilities, stating that the project aligns with NSW’s emissions reduction goals and renewable energy commitments. He highlighted that HumeLink represents a forward-looking investment that will boost the region’s green energy capacity, create jobs, and support a stable, low-emissions energy future. Scully stressed that the project would eventually lead to lower energy costs for consumers by expanding the renewable energy supply and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

HumeLink to unlock energy from Snowy 2.0 and support NSW’s journey to net zero

HumeLink’s role in connecting the Snowy Hydro Scheme expansion has been celebrated as a crucial step toward NSW’s energy independence. Once operational, Snowy 2.0 is expected to bring 2,200 megawatts of renewable power to the state, providing a critical source of on-demand energy. HumeLink’s 365-kilometer network will serve as the main artery for this new power, supplying NSW’s grid with cleaner, more sustainable electricity. This development is part of NSW Labor’s broader Energy Plan, which aims to ensure a future powered by renewable sources while driving down emissions and promoting regional economic growth.

High costs of undergrounding prompt reliance on existing corridors

The prospect of undergrounding HumeLink’s transmission lines was investigated in two parliamentary inquiries, which found the expense prohibitive under current regulatory frameworks. As a result, Transgrid designed the project to use existing transmission corridors as much as possible, minimizing the visual impact on surrounding areas and adhering to budgetary guidelines. Despite this decision, community stakeholders expressed support for HumeLink’s efforts to prioritize environmental considerations, signaling an acknowledgment of the project’s long-term benefits over its temporary inconveniences.

With final approval from the Commonwealth Government expected soon, construction of the HumeLink project is set to commence in late 2024, with completion anticipated by 2027. The infrastructure will involve not only the development of new transmission lines but also the construction of a substation at Gugaa, further cementing NSW’s renewable energy foundation.