Bush Summit: Transgrid powering new jobs in the Riverina
Transgrid is delivering two major energy projects which will converge in Wagga Wagga, establishing the Riverina city as a major energy hub.
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It’s the NSW regional city brimming with opportunity. Whether it be small businesses, young entrepreneurs or budding university students, there’s a sense of opportunity in the air and a major energy company has seen it.
Transgrid is delivering two major energy projects EnergyConnect and HumeLink which will converge in Wagga Wagga, establishing the Riverina city as a major energy hub.
“We’re going to be making Wagga a very central hub because once all the infrastructure is built, we also then have to maintain and operate it,” Transgrid’s executive manager of delivery Craig Stallan said.
“Fundamentally, we have to build a significant amount of infrastructure to move all of this renewable energy around the place.
“And so that means there’s a lot of direct jobs that need to be employed in the actual construction of all of that infrastructure. But there’s also a whole bunch of indirect flow on benefits to the local community.”
EnergyConnect is an energy infrastructure project, which will begin construction late this year, that promises to lower power bills for homes and businesses and create 1500 jobs, primarily across regional NSW.
The 900km electricity transmission line, being built between Wagga Wagga in New South Wales and Robertstown in South Australia will connect power grids across three Australian states, driving competition in the wholesale electricity market.
“So once it’s all built our forecast is actually for the price of energy to reduce through time. But the real benefit is just all of that renewable energy generation that happens around the areas and around the regions that will.”
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“The more people you have that either transit through your town or live in your town or have a reason to be in your town, there’s a whole bunch of social aspects that bring with it, and people need to eat and need to sleep and they spend money,” Mr Stallan said.
“And there’s all those kinds of economic benefits that flow through and then that trickles down as well.”
“If I’m hiring another 100 people in Wagga and you got another 100 people there that need to be housed and there’s more housing demand, but then those guys will have to send their people to schools and, you know, use the various medical facilities.”
Gavin King Managing Director of Wagga Wagga prefabricated homes business Prefabulous has lived in Wagga for 35 years and said “it’s really reassuring that there’s that kind of money being spent” in the booming city.
“When I was younger everyone just wanted to leave Wagga and go to the city but there’s enough opportunity here now that they don’t need to do that and the cost of living here is much more affordable than moving to a city,” Mr King said.
“House prices are definitely rising but you don’t see the boom bust that you see in the cities. Wagga has always had a steady growth and it’s a great place to invest in properties because it’s a sure thing.”
Prefabulous has grown their team to eight permanent staff and over 20 subcontractors since they began construction in March 2020.
“We build stylish houses in the one location at our yard in Wagga to completion then we put them on a truck and send them out to all sorts of locations,” Mr King said.
“We’ve got lots of jobs, we’re building well into the back half of next year so it’s a pretty long waiting list. And then we’re looking for more tradesman and we’re expanding so it’s all very positive.”
“There’s also a good standard of contractors here. They’re very well trained through the TAFE here and there’s good local site builders here who train up their apprentices very well.”
CATERING TO WAGGA’S CURIOUS CREATIVES
Growing up in Wagga Wagga, business owner Vickie Burkinshaw saw a need to create a safe space for locals to be creative and express themselves.
Opening her business – a cafe, bar, art gallery and function venue – at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic was a scary time for her but it is the demand for new and exciting venues in the regional city that has kept The Curious Rabbit thriving.
“We sell out of our events pretty quickly which is great so we’ve got a really good following of supporters and regular customers,” Ms Burkinshaw said. “Our whole Fitzmaurice St community is working towards that boutique feel, there are no chain stores it’s all boutique retail, art, restaurants – we call it the Paris end of town. It’s about that sense of collaboration between businesses that gives you a lot of hope for the future … everyone is doing things collaboratively rather than competitively.”
After studying in Canberra, living overseas and working in Melbourne, Ms Burkinshaw saw a need to provide a space for Wagga Wagga locals who are “slightly more curious”.
“When I came back four years ago I realised was there was still something missing for young people or people that are slightly curious and want to express themselves with art and music,” she said.
“I thought I can bring a little bit of Melbourne back with me and create a place where people can be really creative.”
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