Underground power upgrades – Securing the energy supply across Melbourne CBD

Works and locations

As part of works to keep your power safe, reliable and to provide additional capacity for new connections, we’re completing upgrades to Zone Substations and underground power across Melbourne’s CBD.

We’re undertaking works in stages across the below areas:

• Little Queen Street
• Little Collins Street
• Flinders Lane, Melbourne
• Market Street, Melbourne
• Queen Street, Melbourne
• Little Queen Street, Melbourne
• Bourke Street, Melbourne
• Queens Bridge Street, Melbourne
• City Road, Southbank
• Kavanaugh Street, Southbank
• Balston Street, Southbank

This work involves digging trenches across roads and footpaths and there may be changes to the way you travel while works are underway.

The work will be undertaken in stages including:

• Underground service investigation works – during this stage of work, our crews trench or bore underground to understand what is currently located within the proposed work areas (this includes assets like telecommunication, gas, sewer etc.)
• Conduit installation works – during this stage of work, our crews will trench or bore underground to install the conduits that will house new electrical cables
• Cable installation and hauling works – during this stage of work, our crews will install and pull cables through conduits
• Jointing, testing and connection works – this involves joining the cables, completing testing on newly installed cables to ensure they are ready for use
• Reinstatement works – once works are complete, this stage involves back filling open excavations and pouring concrete or asphalt to make work areas accessible for vehicles and pedestrians.
• Zone Substation upgrades – works are ongoing at Little Queen Street Zone Substation to upgrade the equipment that supplies one third of the CBD’s power.

What to expect

• While works are underway, local traffic to car parks and service entrances will be maintained at all times
• Traffic controllers and signage will be in place to help motorists, pedestrians and cyclists to move safely around work areas
• Electricity supply will be maintained, there are no planned outages during these works
• On completion of these works, any disturbed areas will be reinstated.

We’ll keep this page up-to-date as works progress.

Current progress 

Little Queen Street Zone Substation, Melbourne

Works are currently being completed within the Little Queen Street Zone Substation which is having a switch room upgrade and is expected to be completed by end of 2027.