AN EXPECTED mid-year start-up for the Marinus Link power and data connector is expected to create an explosion of job opportunities for South Gippsland and beyond.
Up to a thousand jobs will be created by Marinus Link directly and indirectly.
Recently appointed Marinus Link CEO Stephanie McGregor said the undersea cable project is now fully funded and expected to start by the middle of next year.
“It’s real, it’s happening,” said Ms McGregor.
Ms McGregor said there would be great opportunities for Gippsland businesses in the supply chain as well as direct employment with Marinus Link and its contractors.
The project will be mobilised gradually with an expected start in the second half of 2026.
“A number of local suppliers will be engaged as early as February,” said Ms McGregor.
“Now is the time for potential suppliers to start engaging.
“We’re on the journey to getting this project built.”
In addition to civil, construction, marine and electrical engineers Marinus Link expects hundreds of jobs will be created in ancillary services for cleaners, labourers, food services, office jobs, finance, H.R., legal services and external relations.
“We hope this lays the foundation for the skills in offshore wind energy,” said Marinus Link Communications and Engagement Specialist Justin White.
Accommodation for the large workforce is also a priority for Marinus Link.
“We’re working closely with all our leading contractors to determine peak construction timeframes, and opportunities for locally sourced supply and contracting.
“We’re looking for every type of accommodation we can get,” said Mr White.
“Rental homes, Airbnb’s, B&B’s, motels and hotels, we understand the accommodation available in the area and want to minimise disruptions to our local communities.”
Discussions are also underway for a Marinus Link local office in South Gippsland.
Stephanie McGregor described Marinus Link as a turning point for renewables.
“The next phase is finalising contracts.
“We’re very familiar with the area and our engagement and communications team has been connecting with local community groups for several years now.
“I’m aware the team has been closely engaged with many communities in South Gippsland including the Sandy Point community.
“I’m familiar with Sandy Point’s e-bus,” said Ms McGregor.
“What a fantastic community initiative and such a vital service for its members.”
Ms McGregor said Marinus Link was undertaking a fulsome engagement process to determine what community benefit schemes might potentially look like.
“The team is discussing community benefits, aspirations and opportunities.
“It’s about what communities are after in terms of sustainable development.”
Just five months into the top job at Marinus Link, Stephanie McGregor said her first priority was to finalise contractual negotiations and make sure the principal contractors had firmed up their local supply chains and social outcomes.
“We will then work on how the roll-out will happen in practice.
“All the contractors need to be aligned.”
Proud of her Gippsland heritage Ms McGregor said she grew up in Lang Lang.
Ms McGregor’s experience in the energy sector includes national level energy consulting, transmission projects for TransGrid and Ausnet, and Director for Offshore Transmission for the United Kingdom’s energy regulator.
“I saw the U.K. go on the journey offshore and onshore,” said Ms McGregor.
“It’s a big journey and it takes time, energy and patience.”
Ms McGregor said Marinus Link was an opportunity to learn from overseas.
“The U.K is still on their journey with the biggest offshore energy sector in the world.
“Our market will benefit from the latest technology.”
The major civil and construction contract for Marinus Link has been awarded to TasVic Greenlink a joint venture of DT Infrastructure and Samsung C&T Corporation.
The contract with TasVic Greenlink will cover construction of converter stations and the installation of equipment and land cable civil works from Waratah Bay to Hazelwood.
Ms McGregor said it signalled significant opportunities for local businesses.
“The successful tenderer will need strong local business capability to deliver on this massive construction campaign, and we’ve set targets to incentivise this.
“TasVic Greenlink is keen to engage with potential subcontractors and suppliers during this next stage of the tender and into construction,” she said.
“Earlier this year we invited local businesses to connect with our initial shortlisted bidders in Burnie, Morwell and Leongatha and nearly 600 people turned up.
“We’ve already passed on the details of over 500 subcontractors and suppliers who registered on the Industry Capability Network gateway.”
Specially designed trenches will be used for the 90km of underground cables running from the shoreline west of Sandy Point to the Latrobe Valley.
In areas of sensitive habitat open trenches will be replaced with underground tunnels by using a technique called horizontal directional drilling.
“It’s quite a thin drilling technique,” said Justin White.
A small telecommunications hut will be located at Sandy Point but the main power converter station for Victoria will be located at Hazelwood.
The $3.89 billion Marinus Link project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2030.
