Electricity Cable Tunnel, Sydney

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GHD has explored options for electricity supply to the Sydney CBD. Options including overhead cables and trenches were examained, but a tunnel was recommended to avoid disruption to the surface and to the community.

The 1.5 km tunnel between Surry Hills and Haymarket was constructed using a roadheader driven method. GHD provided project and construction management services and was involved at all stages of the four-year project, including options analysis, preliminary geotechnical investigation, concept design, D&C contract documentation, tender assessment, risk management analysis and environmental impact assessment.

The tunnel carries 132 kV electric power cables, which is part of an electricity augmentation exercise undertaken jointly by Energy Australia and Transgrid to improve the reliability of the Sydney CBD electricity supply. Following tunnel construction the cables were installed using purpose-built cable laying machinery.

The tunnel is ventilated to control heat build up in the cables and includes other services, such as pumping stations, fire management systems and radio communications.

An underground water treatment plant is provided to treat the groundwater infiltration into the tunnel prior to its discharge. The tunnel utilises a complex SCADA system to monitor and control these services.

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Whether you have a small, unique purpose machine, a major industrial facility or an entire power distribution system, by engaging with GHD, you’ll benefit from our full cycle services. Our knowledge includes the planning and engineering of overhead and underground high voltage transmission, and major substations up to 500kV.

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