Project Description

Ausgrid is constructing a new cable tunnel running from our property on the corner of Ann, Riley & Albion Streets in Surry Hills to our new City North zone substation on the corner of Sussex and Erskine Streets, Sydney. This project is part of Ausgrid’s Sydney CityGrid project which is our plan for the CBD electricity network for the next decade and beyond.
Work on the new cable tunnel is being carried out in two stages. Stage one involves construction of a 150 metre extension to the existing City South Cable Tunnel and stage two involves construction of the 3.2 kilometre City East Cable Tunnel (CECT).Work on the project began in late 2011 and is planned for completion in 2015.

Thiess was awarded the contract for the 3.2 kilometre segmentally lined tunnel under an alliance with Ausgrid. The alliance brings together Thiess, other partners and Ausgrid as the owner participant. With a diameter of 3.5 metres, the tunnel will connect the existing City North substation in Sussex Street to a new substation in Riley Street, Surry Hills. Thiess have procured a bespoke tunnel boring machine for the excavation and lining of the cable tunnel and are using a high flow water cooler to recycle water used in the TBM cooling system to enable average savings of 26 mega litres a month. Groundwater is treated for reuse in the grout batching operations, reducing the need for using potable water. The CECT project also includes the construction of two concrete lined connectors, an extension to the City South Cable Tunnel and installation and commissioning of all tunnel mechanical and electrical services.

The awarding of the City East Cable Tunnel (CECT) contract follows Thiess’ highly successful completion in 2010 of Ausgrid’s City West Cable Tunnel (CWCT).
The completion of the City East Cable Tunnel will complete Ausgrid’s ‘ring main’ for the Sydney CBD, linking both the existing City South Cable Tunnel and the City West Cable Tunnel, and will ensure that the electricity network continues to be safe and reliable.