The Victoria to New South Wales Interconnector West (VNI West) project will deliver a vital new transmission link between Victoria and New South Wales (NSW), unlocking renewable energy from Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) in both states.
VNI West will transport clean and reliable electricity to homes and businesses, maintaining grid reliability as ageing coal-fired power stations retire. VNI West is a critical part of the national energy transition, designed to strengthen grid resilience across state boundaries and put downward pressure on energy costs for consumers.
To progress the project, Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) engaged AECOM as Technical, Planning and Environmental Advisor for the project’s Victorian section. The proposed solution is a high-capacity 500 kV double-circuit overhead transmission line between Victoria and NSW.
Our multidisciplinary team is delivering technical assessments, environmental studies, and planning input to support corridor selection and design development. In 2023, we contributed to the Area of Interest and Draft Corridor reports, using rigorous analysis and extensive community engagement to refine a draft transmission corridor approximately 2 km wide, balancing energy objectives with environmental and social considerations. During 2024-25, we assisted TCV in narrowing the transmission corridor down to a preferred easement and eventually a project easement, identifying transmission tower locations and adjusting towers to accommodate landholder feedback.
We are now progressing work on finalising the reference design and preparing the Environment Effects Statement (EES). Our team continues to work closely with TCV, regional communities, Traditional Owners, and government agencies to ensure the final project design delivers technically sound, environmentally responsible, and socially acceptable outcomes.
VNI West represents a vital step toward Australia’s clean energy future, helping both states meet renewable energy targets while maintaining the resilience and reliability of the national electricity grid.