The redevelopment of Beaconsfield West Substation is a $144 million investment to secure the power supply of Sydney’s inner metropolitan area and central business district for the future.
This project is just one part of a five year, $2.6 billion plan by TransGrid to build new or upgrade existing substations and transmission lines across NSW.
What is the project?
The Beaconsfield West Substation is located on Burrows Road in Alexandria. The substation is a vital part of our existing transmission network in securing future power supply into Sydney’s CBD.
The Beaconsfield West Substation was commissioned in 1979 as the first major electricity supply to Sydney’s inner metropolitan area. We have purchased the two sites next to the existing substation on Burrows Road. For the upgrade, we propose to:
The Beaconsfield West Redevelopment Project involves:
- Establishing two buildings to house new 132kV gas insulated switchgear (one on each site);
- Installing a third 330/132kV transformer (on southern site);
- Installing two 132kV 160MVAr capacitor banks (on northern site); and
- Establishing a gantry across the site for cable connections.
The redevelopment, including a new transformer, will increase the substation’s capacity by about 50%.
Where are we up to?
Construction has begun on the Beaconsfield West Redevelopment Project. TransGrid's contractor UGL is undertaking the work in two phases over the next four years.
Phase 1 - Southern Site
Foundations on the Southern Site have been completed and construction of the switchgear building is underway. Delivery of the transformer is expected to take place in April 2011. The Southern Site switchgear building is expected to be completed by the end of 2011.
Phase 2 - Northern Site
Construction of a second switchgear building has commenced and foundations are currently under construction. An overhead structure or gantry will be built across the existing Beaconsfield West substation to connect the Northern and Southern Sites. The works are expected to be completed by the end of 2011.
Review of Environmental Factors
A Review of Environmental Factors (REF) was prepared to assess the potential environmental impacts of the project.
The review covers land use, noise, hours of work, traffic and access, flood levels, flora and fauna, cultural heritage, visual amenity and landscape, geology and soils, and electric and magnetic fields. Impacts such as noise, traffic, air and water quality are mostly limited to the construction phase. These would be managed through a Construction Environmental Management Plan. The REF was on public display in December 2009 and the submission period has now closed.
Further information
For further information, please contact us on 1800 222 537.
Project updates
| Beaconsfield West Community Update |
January 2011 |
 PDF |
| Beaconsfield West Fact Sheet |
August 2010 |
PDF |
| Review of Environmental Factors |
December 2009 |
PDF |
| Final Report |
February 2009 |
PDF |
| Application Notice |
November 2007 |
PDF |