We are relocating six electricity transmission towers between the Western Ring Road (M80) and the existing freight rail corridor to make space to build Melbourne Airport Rail.

The new towers will be built up to 25m from their original location. Relocation works are planned to start from June 2022, subject to relevant planning, environmental and other government approvals.

There will be temporary impacts to the M80 and Westfield Drive inbound entry ramp during these works, and we will provide advance notice to help minimise disruptions to motorists.

The relocation of the transmission towers has been informed by comprehensive technical studies and consultation with AusNet, the owner and operator of the Victorian electricity transmission network.

Your questions answered

Why do the towers need to be moved?

We need to build new transmission towers to safely lift the power lines higher from the ground and provide greater clearance between the lines and the new Melbourne Airport Rail tracks.

Where will the towers be relocated to?

New towers will be installed within the existing corridor, up to 25m away from their existing locations, alongside the M80.

When will the towers be moved?

Construction is planned to start in June 2022 and is expected to be completed by mid-2023. Local residents and businesses will be notified before works start.

Will the towers be moved closer to homes?

The towers are not expected to be positioned any closer to homes as we need to keep the new towers a safe distance away from the existing Albion-Jacana freight rail line.

Will the new towers be higher than the existing towers?

The new towers will not be significantly taller than the existing towers, and in some cases they will be around the same height. The new towers will have higher anchor points for the transmission wires, which enables the wires to be located higher off the ground than they currently are.

Could you just remove the towers?

The towers are needed to keep the tension in the power lines tight and at a safe height. Removing the towers would not comply with current regulations and would introduce significant safety risks to the public.

Will nearby homes or businesses lose power while the towers are being moved?

We expect to be able to relocate the transmission towers without businesses or homes losing power.

The towers are part of the transmission network, and do not directly supply local homes and businesses. Distribution networks are used to transport electricity at lower voltages to end-use customers such as homes and businesses.

Will the new towers affect people using the area below?

The proposed design for this area includes upgrades to the M80 shared use path to make walking and riding safer and easier.

We will communicate any impacts to this area during construction in advance to help minimise disruptions.

About Melbourne Airport Rail

Melbourne Airport Rail will connect people from the airport to where they need to go – be that work, home or Victoria’s key tourism destinations.

Airport trains will run from a new station at Melbourne Airport every 10 minutes, through the Metro Tunnel to Melbourne’s CBD in around 30 minutes.

Construction will begin in 2022 with a target opening date of 2029, subject to approvals. The project will support up to 8,000 jobs during construction.

*Subject to relevant Victorian and Federal planning, environmental and other government approvals.