Ausgrid has started civil construction on the latest of its 49 new or upgraded zone substations for 2009-14.
Crews have spent the past six months excavating the Croydon Road site in preparation for the new 132/11 kV Croydon zone substation in Sydney’s inner west.
The new substation will replace the nearby 33/11 kV Five Dock substation built in the 1950s and currently servicing about 16,000 homes and business in parts of Ashfield, Leichhardt, Croydon, Canada Bay and Five Dock.
Specialist electrical and civil crews, including substation technicians, cable jointers and Ausgrid apprentices, will help install two 50 MVA transformers, six panels of GIS switchgear and 22 panels of 11,000 V switchgear on site.
Crews have already started the installation of new 11,000 V cables connecting the substation to Ausgrid’s existing distribution network.
Sub-transmission cables from Ausgrid’s Mason Park sub-transmission will help supply the new Croydon substation. New 132,000 V cables connecting the substation will be installed early next year.
Ausgrid general manager transmission, Trevor Armstrong said the new substation would also help meet the area’s increasing electricity needs.
“Demand is growing by about 2.3 per cent every year in the area due to population growth and residential development,” Mr Armstrong said.
“This upgrade will help ensure Ausgrid provides a safe and reliable electricity supply in to the future.
“About 150 workers, such as builders, engineers, substation technicians and cable jointers, will have contributed to this project by the time it has finished.”
The Five Dock zone substation will be retired upon commissioning of the new Croydon zone substation.
Ausgrid crews have also started work on the architect-designed Waverley-zone substation in Sydney, which will power 25,000 homes around Australia’s iconic beachside suburbs.
Mr Armstrong said the new indoor substation would be next to the existing zone substation in Anglesea Street, Bondi, and would power Waverley, Bellevue Hill, Bondi and Double Bay by mid-2013.
“The existing heritage-listed substation was built in 1929 and its last major upgrade was in 1959,” Mr Armstrong said.
“It has performed well over the years but is now approaching the time for replacement.”
