New South Wales approves multibillion-dollar Hunter Transmission Project
The New South Wales government has granted state planning approval for the Hunter Transmission Project, a multibillion‑dollar, 110‑kilometre, 500 kV overhead transmission line linking the Central‑West Orana and New England Renewable Energy Zones to the Hunter, Sydney and Illawarra regions. Ministers Penny Sharpe (Climate Change and Energy) and Paul Scully (Planning and Public Spaces) said the project is a critical "missing link" for the state's clean‑energy transition as ageing coal‑fired stations retire.
Construction is slated to begin in late 2026 and finish in late 2029, pending Commonwealth approval. The project is expected to generate about 830 construction jobs, including more than 160 in the Hunter, and around 1,500 direct and indirect jobs across NSW. Approval conditions protect social impacts, biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage and local business participation, and the route has been designed to avoid nearly all breeding ponds of Littlejohn's Tree Frog. EnergyCo will manage the project and work with landowners and communities throughout delivery.
Entities: EnergyCo · Hunter Transmission Project · New South Wales Government · Paul Scully · Penny Sharpe
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Ministers Penny Sharpe and Paul Scully said the project is a critical missing link and balances development with environmental protection.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The project will support about 830 construction jobs, including more than 160 in the Hunter, and around 1,500 direct and indirect jobs across NSW.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The approval includes conditions to protect social impacts, biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, and local business participation.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The approved route avoids nearly all breeding ponds of Littlejohn's Tree Frog.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Construction is expected to start in late 2026 and be completed in late 2029, subject to Commonwealth government approval.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The project is a 110‑kilometre, 500 kV overhead transmission line between Bayswater and Olney (Eraring power station) in the Lower Hunter.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Hunter Transmission Project received state planning approval in New South Wales.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The project will transport renewable energy from the Central‑West Orana and New England Renewable Energy Zones to homes and businesses in the Hunter, Sydney and Illawarra.