Construction is underway to transform the old Elders building into the new Transgrid Discovery Hub in Wagga Wagga.
The Transgrid Discovery Hub is anticipated to be open to the public in early 2024.
“In a first for Transgrid, we are building an engaging and inviting space for community members, landowners and local businesses to maximise the economic and social benefits of our major projects which are centred on the Riverina,” said Transgrid Executive General Manager of Corporate & Stakeholder Affairs Maryanne Graham.
Graham noted that the discovery hub will be a one-stop shop where visitors can engage with Transgrid and learn about its energy vision, significant projects, employment and training opportunities, operations, and community-based activities across the region.
According to her, the Transgrid Discovery Hub will offer a community space for not-for-profit organisations for meetings and engagements, along with a culturally appropriate yarning circle to recognise and include First Nations people in Wiradjuri Country.
“The Transgrid Discovery Hub will also include a discovery space for community members and school students to explore power generation, electricity transmission, the transition to renewables, and careers in the energy sector through visual and interactive experiences,” Graham said.
She added that visitors could learn about the history of electricity in Riverina from the first time power was switched in 1922 until the region’s role in allowing the renewable energy future of Australia by means of EnergyConnect, HumeLink, and VNI West, among other major projects.
Other features that will be showcased in the discovery hub include a kinetic energy display where visitors can use a bike to generate electricity and charge their mobile phones and a solar-powered Wi-Fi and charging bench.
Transgrid also invites local students in a challenge to research and design an interactive and educational Discovery Pod to be situated at the hub. The winning school is expected to receive $5,000 as a prize.
“Transgrid is also consulting local schools, teachers, and educational professionals to design a program of activity at the centre to support in-class learning for secondary students,” Graham stated.
Work on the discovery hub is providing a boost to local businesses. Graham said Transgrid is committed to using all local businesses and suppliers to design and construct the hub to deliver the facility for Wagga from Wagga.
“We have already engaged a range of local companies to help us deliver the facility including architects Sewell Design, builders Balding Constructions, furniture manufacturers Adaptive Interiors, graphic designers Sunday Collective, copywriters Frank and Earnest, and Applied Building & Grounds Maintenance, with more Wagga companies to be brought into the project shortly,” she added.
