Underground power upgrades – Securing the energy supply across Melbourne CBD

Works and locations

As part of works to keep your power safe, reliable and to provide additional capacity for new connections, we’re completing upgrades to Zone Substations and underground power across Melbourne’s CBD.

We’re undertaking works in stages across the below areas:

• Little Queen Street
• Little Collins Street
• Flinders Lane, Melbourne
• Market Street, Melbourne
• Queen Street, Melbourne
• Little Queen Street, Melbourne
• Bourke Street, Melbourne
• Queens Bridge Street, Melbourne
• City Road, Southbank
• Kavanaugh Street, Southbank
• Balston Street, Southbank

This work involves digging trenches across roads and footpaths and there may be changes to the way you travel while works are underway.

The work will be undertaken in stages including:

• Underground service investigation works – during this stage of work, our crews trench or bore underground to understand what is currently located within the proposed work areas (this includes assets like telecommunication, gas, sewer etc.)
• Conduit installation works – during this stage of work, our crews will trench or bore underground to install the conduits that will house new electrical cables
• Cable installation and hauling works – during this stage of work, our crews will install and pull cables through conduits
• Jointing, testing and connection works – this involves joining the cables, completing testing on newly installed cables to ensure they are ready for use
• Reinstatement works – once works are complete, this stage involves back filling open excavations and pouring concrete or asphalt to make work areas accessible for vehicles and pedestrians.
• Zone Substation upgrades – works are ongoing at Little Queen Street Zone Substation to upgrade the equipment that supplies one third of the CBD’s power.

What to expect

• While works are underway, local traffic to car parks and service entrances will be maintained at all times
• Traffic controllers and signage will be in place to help motorists, pedestrians and cyclists to move safely around work areas
• Electricity supply will be maintained, there are no planned outages during these works
• On completion of these works, any disturbed areas will be reinstated.

We’ll keep this page up-to-date as works progress.

Current progress 

Flinders Lane, Melbourne

We’re currently completing cable hauling on Flinders Lane, between  Market Street and Queens Street until Thursday 2 October 2025. Works will take place in this area between 9:30am and 4:00pm on weekdays.

• We are working in the parking lane so vehicle access on Flinders Lane will be maintained as normal.
• Pedestrian access will be maintained as normal.

Queen Street, Melbourne

We will be completing cable hauling on Queen Street, between Flinders Lane and Little Collins Street northbound 7:00pm to 5:00am Monday 13 to Tuesday 14 October. 

• We are working in the bus lanes so vehicle access Queen Street will be maintained as normal.
• While work is underway, there will be no left turn from Collins Street on to Queens Street – please refer to the map below for the detail
• Collins Street /Queen Street bus stop will be closed with alternative stop located further North near corner of Little Collins Street.
• Pedestrian access will be maintained as normal.

Queen, Little Collins and Bourke Streets, Melbourne

We will be completing cable hauling between pits on Queen Street, between Flinders Lane and Bourke Street northbound 7:00pm to 5:00am, Tuesday 14 October to Monday 20 October. Expect 2–3 weeknights only, subject to weather and site conditions.

• We are working in the bus lanes on Queen Street so vehicle access will be maintained as normal.
• We will be closing Little Collins Street at Queen Street westbound, vehicles will need to access from William Street.
• We will be closing Bourke Street at Queen Street westbound, vehicles will need to access from William Street.
• The Little Collins Street/Queen Street bus stop will be temporarily relocated further north, beyond the Little Collins Street intersection.
• Pedestrian access will be maintained as normal.

Flinders Lane, Melbourne

We will be completing cable hauling between pits on Queen Street and Flinders Lane 7:00pm to 5:00am, Monday 20 October to Wednesday 22 October.

• We are working in the bus lanes on Queen Street so vehicle access will be maintained as normal.
• We will be working in the parking lane on Flinders Lane so vehicle access will be maintained as normal.
• Flinders Lane/Queen Street bus stops will be closed with alternative stop located further North near corner of Collins Street.
• Pedestrian access will be maintained as normal.

Little Queen Street Zone Substation, Melbourne

Works will then be contained to the Little Queen Street Zone Substation which is having a switch room upgrade, expected to be completed by end of 2026.