South Gippsland braces for early peak in Marinus Link jobs boom
South Gippsland is bracing for the impact on local infrastructure and housing affordability as the multi-billion-dollar Marinus Link project ramps up to near peak employment from the first half of next year.
PRESSURE is mounting in South Gippsland as the multi-billion-dollar Marinus Link project prepares for an early peak in construction and field-based workforce jobs.
The massive energy and data interconnector project is expected to reach its maximum employment capacity within the next six months placing a heavy demand on the local supply chain and accommodation sectors for years to come.
Project developers are countering supply chain pressures with a strict local-first procurement approach. The project has already prioritised local businesses, jobs, and regional upskilling. However, the sheer volume of personnel needed for field roles is testing regional housing and service capacity.
Major civil and construction works across Gippsland are being driven by TasVic Greenlink (TVGL), a joint venture between DT Infrastructure and Samsung C&T.
TVGL’s extensive responsibilities include major earthworks and site establishment, access road development and trenching, and converter station and fibre optic terminal station construction.
While a regional workforce capability assessment has suggested local workers will fill most TVGL civil roles, the incoming wave of specialised contractors is threatening to tighten available short-term to medium-term accommodation.
For businesses and individual job seekers looking to capitalise on the coming jobs peak, recruitment and procurement are being managed via distinct commercial streams.
Hitachi Energy is spearheading the deployment of advanced High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) converter station technology at the Hazelwood and Heybridge sites.
Their workforce spans detailed engineering, factory testing, logistics, installation, and final system commissioning. Because of the highly technical requirements, the team features a strategic mix of local trades and non-local specialists.
Simultaneously, Prysmian Powerlink is managing the design and installation of the complex undersea and underground HVDC cable systems traversing Bass Strait and Gippsland. Prysmian's responsibilities include specialised horizontal directional drilling for shore crossings in Tasmania and Victoria.
This offshore and coastal work will rely heavily on interstate and international experts, many of whom will reside directly on dedicated installation vessels.
To balance project demands with community needs, Marinus Link is operating under its May 2026 Workforce and Accommodation Strategy. Grounded in 18 months of local consultation, this framework uses a locals-first hiring model with active monitoring of regional housing and service conditions to ensure community stability as construction builds momentum.
Accommodation planning figures will be refined as construction progresses, though they do not represent total jobs supported by Marinus Link.
Since May, landholder negotiations along the Victorian cable route have progressed according to Marinus Link resulting in signed agreements for easement access and the start of preparatory contractor works.
These negotiated agreements provide individual landholders and the project with certainty. While proactive discussions continue, Marinus Link is advancing statutory processes under the Land Acquisition and Compensation Act 1986.
Discussions with landholders who have not yet signed an option deed are ongoing with a mutually negotiated agreement remaining the preferred outcome. Marinus Link will continue communicating directly with relevant landholders and their representatives as the application progresses.
Project officials acknowledge that land access discussions can cause disruption and concern, and they encourage affected landholders to contact the project team directly with questions.
To manage increasing community interest, Marinus Link Pty Ltd has opened a second information hub in Burnie in addition to the Leongatha Community Information Centre.
The project has consolidated feedback on its Draft Community Benefits Sharing Framework to ensure long-term regional growth and is implementing a dedicated Workforce and Accommodation Strategy to protect local housing availability.
Developed over 18 months the strategy aims to bolster regional employment while continuously monitoring housing conditions preventing an influx of construction workers from driving up rental prices or decreasing local vacancy rates.
