If you didn’t attend the recent Major Projects Conference in Hobart, don’t stress – the HED Consulting team were there as Associate Sponsors. Here are the key updates you need to know about major projects underway or planned across Tasmania.
The Marinus Link Project
Image credit: Major Project Tasmania September 2025
The Marinus Link, a proposed 1500 MW electricity interconnector between Tasmania and Victoria, is a nationally significant infrastructure project that will play a pivotal role in Australia’s clean energy transition. This project is billed as a critical development that will enable greater sharing of renewable energy, unlock investment in new wind and hydro resources in Tasmania, and enhance energy security and reliability for the National Electricity Market.
The key benefits were outlined as:
- Import lower-cost renewable energy, such as solar and wind
- Reserve hydro and store the extra energy to use or trade in the National Electricity Market
- Improves electricity network resilience and reliability
With the new fibre optic cabling, there will be 150 times the combined capacity of all three current Bass Strait connection for:
- Greater resilience and redundancy
- Faster data transfer rates
- Lower cost
The analysis shows that Marinus Link creates approx $1.4bn in economic stimulus throughout construction and operations, and up to 1400 jobs throughout peak construction – in Tasmania alone.
ACEN Australia’s Tasmanian Wind Energy Projects
Robbins Island and Jim’s Plain Wind – North East Wind – large-scale wind farm projects that will support existing energy users, attract new green industries to the state, and make a significant contribution to Australia’s renewable energy transition. The projects are strategically located in Tasmania’s far north to harness the state’s world-class wind resource. ACEN Managing Director, David Pollington, outlined that Tasmanian Government’s Tasmanian Renewable Energy Target (TRET):
- 150% by 2030 = 5,250GWh
- 200% by 2040 = 10,500GWh
- This requires over 3000 MW of new renewable energy projects
Image credit: Major Projects Tasmania
World-class wind plus hydro will give Tasmania a national competitive edge, with a more diverse mix for Tasmania – which is good for energy security.
He implored that we need to act now or risk missing the NEM transition wave and opportunity for construction jobs and ongoing industries – such as for design & construction activities, operations and maintenance roles and supporting businesses over the 30 year project life.
Selfs Point Sewer Transformation Project
TasWater is preparing to commence the Selfs Point Sewer Transformation Project, marking the largest sewerage infrastructure investment in the history of Hobart. The $314 million initiative aims to overhaul the city’s sewage management system, improving environmental health and supporting future urban development. The project aims to expand the Selfs Point STP and relocate the Macquarie Point STP to meet compliance requirements, improve environmental outcomes and accommodate future growth.
The rationalisation of the Macquarie Point STP is a key element in allowing the State Government and the Macquarie Point Development Corporation to realise the vision to create a mixed-use precinct that contributes to the delivery of the 30 -Year Greater Hobart Plan.
Macquarie Point Precinct – Macquarie Point Stadium Project Update
Image credit: Tasmanian Government
The final order for the redevelopment of the Macquarie Point Precinct has been made in line with it being declared a Project of State Significance. The Order was developed collaboratively across multiple agencies, regulators and organisations, with all members of Parliament consulted as part of the process. A key challenge for the project is the Tasmanian Planning Commission’s rejection of the stadium proposal itself, which cited concerns over its size, impact on heritage, and economic viability.
The precinct will move forward under a new framework, but the stadium’s final approval is still pending a parliamentary decision.
Hobart Airport Upgrade
This project will enable the airport to accommodate larger freight and wide-body aircraft like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350. The upgrade will allow for direct flights between Hobart and Asia, opening up new markets for Tasmanian businesses and producers.
- 2,727m strengthened runway
- 100,000+ tonnes of asphalt
- 530 workers onsite
- 206,000 hours of construction
Upgrade of the Arthur Highway Project – Delivering on Tasmania’s Corridor Strategy Approach
The Federal Labor Government has announced nearly $213 million to upgrade critical highways and build active transport routes across the southeast of the state which includes $204 million to improve the Arthur Highway and widen the Sorell Rivulet Bridge. The benefits will deliver passing opportunities with new overtaking lanes, intersection and access improvements, road cross section and geometry improvements for improved safety.
Major Hydropower Project Developments – Tarraleah and Cethana
Erin Meenan from Hydro Tasmania explained that their strategy seeks to grow on-island capacity to underpin Tasmanian economic growth while maximising revenue returns to the State. The vision is to create a modern energy system with an efficient supply mix. With major project benefits for Tasmania including:
- Enhanced energy reliability – perfect complement to wind and solar
- More clean energy – for industries & economic growth
- More value to Tasmania – greater profits returned as dividends
- Long-lasting community benefit through our benefit sharing strategy
Investing in existing assets, building new flexible capacity and storage and enabling new wind and solar in Tasmania has begun with two major projects:
Image credit: Major Projects Tasmania
Tarraleah Redevelopment:
- New life for an 85+ year old hydropower scheme
- New higher capacity power station
- 16 kms of surface pipeline & tunnels – New 220kV transmission line
Cethana: Tasmania’s first pumped hydro project
- New 750MW capacity power station
- Deep storage duration (20 hours)
- 5.5 kms of underground tunnels
These projects create jobs for the future across a range of engineering and construction skills and roles:
- design, engineering, project management
- tunnelling and underground construction
- civil construction, road works
- hospitality services, trades and transport
HED Consulting – Engineering for Major Projects
These projects are exciting developments in construction across Tasmania. Our civil, structural and geotechnical engineering services position HED Consulting to support these projects in Hobart and across Tasmania. If you’re involved in these projects and require expertise and resourcing, get in touch with us to see where we can help.
