United Fasteners Account Manager Steve McGill said he was happy United Fasteners was investing with Transgrid. Photo: Supplied.
One hundred and one Riverina businesses will receive a $68 million investment from energy giant Transgrid and its EnergyConnect project.
Since the transmission project began in 2022, Transgrid says its project invested $206 million in supply contracts with 242 local and First Nations businesses in the Riverina, Murray, and Sunraysia regions.
Transgrid Executive General Manager of Stakeholder, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs Maryanne Graham claimed EnergyConnect was providing a wide range of social and economic benefits to communities from Wagga Wagga to the South Australian border.
“Regional communities are at the heart of the clean energy transition and are in the box seat to capitalise on local investment and employment opportunities as construction of this nation-critical project advances,” Ms Graham said.
“Our commitment to procuring goods and services locally helps regional businesses grow and creates job pathways that will provide lasting social legacy outcomes for regional Australia.
“We are proud to be working with regional communities and businesses to deliver this essential interconnector which will provide access to cleaner and cheaper renewable energy for families and businesses, and help Australia meet its emissions reduction targets.”
Local businesses that have supplied the project include Lockhart Hardware & Hire, United Fasteners (Wagga), Pumps, Pipes & Power (Coleambally), Caruso Bros. Transport (Deniliquin), Gregg & Sons Steel (Buronga), Mildura’s Johnson’s Truck & Coach Service, Dantere Safety, and Davison Motors.
The project’s 540-km eastern alignment has also progressed, with the construction of a world-class substation at Dinawan (near Coleambally) and tower foundation and assembly and erection works on two transmission lines between Buronga and Wagga Wagga.
Hundreds of workers are based at camps at Lockhart, Dinawan (near Coleambally), Cobb Highway (near Hay), Balranald and Buronga. Local businesses are expected to benefit from the population influx.
United Fasteners, which has been operating out of Wagga Wagga for eight years, has supplied more than 30,000 tower bolts for EnergyConnect.
Account manager Steve McGill said the team was proud to be a part of the transmission project.
“We are definitely happy to be a part of our clean energy transition through our involvement in this project and contribute to a greener future for our country,” Mr McGill said.
“The bolts we have supplied for EnergyConnect were made in Australia and that means we are supporting multiple Australian businesses and importantly, our local manufacturing industry.”
For more information about EnergyConnect visit the Transgrid website.
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