Victoria to NSW Interconnector West

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Email vniw@transgrid.com.au or call 1800 955 588 for information and updates on the VNI West project in NSW.

What's new: Final stages of the planning process

The Victoria to NSW Interconnector West – known as VNI West – is a proposed new 500 kV double circuit transmission line connecting the high voltage electricity grids in New South Wales and Victoria.

VNI West is being jointly developed with VicGrid VNI West and will connect major projects EnergyConnect in NSW and Western Renewables Link in Victoria. The preferred option runs from Transgrid’s Dinawan substation north of Jerilderie in NSW to new substations proposed near Kerang and Bulgana in Victoria.

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the NSW section of the VNI West project was placed on public exhibition in August 2025.

Since the EIS was exhibited, Transgrid has continued to refine the project by listening to community and stakeholder feedback and progressing design and technical work. These proposed amendments and refinements are outlined in an Amendment Report submitted to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI). We've also prepared a Submissions Report that responds to issues raised during the EIS exhibition period.

Both reports are now available on the NSW Planning Portal alongside the EIS and can be accessed via the button below. 

To learn more about the project you can also explore the digital EIS below, which features interactive maps, key project information and other useful resources:

View on NSW Major Projects Planning Portal

Explore the Digital EIS

EIS Fact Sheets

The EIS fact sheets provide a summary of key technical studies, the methodology we used to identify and assess potential project impacts, our findings and how we propose to manage or minimise them. We also have fact sheets outlining the project location, how we will construct the project and the facilities required to support construction of the project.  

We're hosting a series of drop-in sessions to provide updates on the information submitted to NSW DPHI as part of the project approval process. At select sessions, we will also be joined by Energy Corporation of NSW, following EnergyCo's recent announcement on community investment and benefits associated with the South West Renewable Energy Zone. Details of upcoming sessions (dates and times) can be found in the Community Engagement section below. NSW DPHI will now review the EIS, Amendment Report and Submissions Report for VNI West before making a recommendation towards a final approval decision by the State and Commonwealth governments.

We currently anticipate a decision on project approval in late 2026, and will continue to keep the community informed as the process progresses.

Victorian section of VNI West 

VicGrid is planning the Victorian section of VNI West. On 30 June 2025, the-then Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) advised Victorian landholders of a revised project timeline, with its expected completion date shifted to November 2030. Read more from TCV on its announcement here or visit the project website.

Why is the project needed?

Network congestion is increasing in some areas of NSW and Victoria – so is the energy system’s reliance on the benefits of interconnection between regions. Well-targeted and timely investment in the transmission network is needed to keep pace with these changes and provide consumers with the most cost-effective energy outcomes - while maintaining reliability and security.

VNI West is a core component and listed as an actionable project in the Australian Energy Market Operator's (AEMO) 2024 Integrated System Plan, which confirms the need for both short- and longer-term investment, to increase the transfer capacity between states in the National Electricity Market (NEM).

Project benefits

Projects such as VNI West represent once-in-a-generation opportunities to re-shape the NSW and Victorian transmission networks in a way that delivers the best possible value to electricity customers over the long term.

The project will:

• increase in the capacity to share electricity between NSW and Victoria
• improve the reliability and security of electricity supply in both states
• increase access to renewable energy sources
• create an economic boost for regional communities through the provision of jobs, training and local supply opportunities
• help achieve renewable energy targets and the overall decarbonisation of the National Electricity Market (NEM), while continuing to deliver safe, reliable and affordable electricity to consumers

See the VNI West fact sheet for more information.

Information sessions

You are welcome to drop in and discuss the VNI West project. We will be sharing information on how the project has been amended since the EIS exhibition.EnergyCo will also be attending select sessions to provide information and seek feedback on its Community and Employment Benefit Program. To find out more about EnergyCo's consultation, click here.

Please see details below and join us at a session that suits you:

Transgrid only sessions

Transgrid & EnergyCo joint sessions

If you are unable to attend at these times and would like further information on VNI West, please contact the team via email vniw@transgrid.com.au or call 1800 955 588. 

We've been engaging communities to better understand the potential social impacts of VNI West in NSW on landowners and the community, both positive and negative, during construction and operation of the project.

This has included seeking broader feedback on themes and topics related to community investment and benefits, which will help our assessment of community investment and benefit initiatives. 

Transgrid has released an interim report outlining a summary of the engagement undertaken to date, and the high level themes of feedback received. 

Together with community, we will work towards identifying specific projects and initiatives within the broad feedback themes that could be considered for investment.

This has included an Expression of Interest (EOI) process, calling for submissions of Social Legacy projects and initiatives from non-profit organisations, educational institutions, and other entities focused on local and regional community development within the VNI West footprint in NSW.

We would like to thank the community for your input on this process, and welcome further discussion at the upcoming information sessions (dates above).

Want to find out more?

• Read our FAQs on Social Legacy initiatives.
• Email the team at our project email or call on 1800 955 588 for further discussion.

Transgrid has established a Community Consultative Group (CCG) to provide a forum for community members, stakeholders and local councils to seek information from Transgrid and to provide feedback to inform corridor refinement and the subsequent Environmental Assessment process.

The purpose of the group is to:

• provide a forum for open and constructive discussions about the VNI West project
• help Transgrid better understand community perspectives and issues related to the project
• work with Transgrid to develop ideas for community benefits and project legacy.

The upcoming meeting schedule is provided below.

Presentations and minutes will be published about two weeks after each meeting. The CCG will operate under the Terms of Reference and Code of Conduct.

For further information please email the CCG Secretariat at vniw@transgrid.com.au.

For information and updates on the VNI West project in NSW, contact Transgrid via email VNIW@transgrid.com.au or call 1800 955 588.

For information relating to the VNI West project in Victoria, please visit the Transmission Company Victoria webpage or email enquiries@transmissionvictoria.com.au. 

Subscribe for updates

• Project Specification Consultation Report (PSCR) - December 2019
• Project Assessment Draft Report (PADR) – July 2022
• Additional Consultation Report – February 2023
• Project Assessment Conclusions Report (PACR) Volume 1 – May 2023
• Project Assessment Conclusions Report (PACR) Volume 2 – May 2023