Mace Consult to deliver essential infrastructure upgrade to Port of Newcastle
Mace Consult has been appointed by Port of Newcastle to its Project Management Services Panel, supporting one of Australia’s most ambitious maritime investments. With 227 years of shipping history, the Port of Newcastle is the largest port on the East Coast, handling over 160 million tonnes of cargo annually and contributing approximately £19 billion to the national economy. This scale underscores the significance of the opportunity ahead, with Mace Consult’s engagement beginning with a high-voltage upgrade to the Port’s Carrington Precinct.
The project, which includes the replacement of old electrical cabling and five kiosk transformers, will modernise critical systems to sustain the site’s operations for generations to come. Mace Consult is providing programme and project management services, integrating proven expertise from a global portfolio in mobility, energy transmission, and resilience. Building on the team’s recent successful history of high voltage electricity infrastructure projects in the greater Newcastle area, they bring insights and lessons learned and are embedded within the client to drive outcomes for the project.
Mace Consult is driving risk management at every stage, ensuring the project progresses with clarity and confidence. Planning risks are mitigated through working closely with the inhouse property team to progress under the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP), while heritage sensitive elements are managed via a State Significant Infrastructure application. Health, Safety, and Wellbeing practices are applied throughout, with the consultancy leading scope assessments and Safety in Design workshops to guarantee milestones align with safety requirements and client expectations.
By strengthening critical energy systems, the project supports a gateway critical to Australia’s trade connectivity and economic growth.
Kate Flint, Country Director for Mace Consult in Australia, says:
“Across Australia, we’re helping to deliver programmes that shape sustainable infrastructure, resilient energy networks, and modern transport systems. In every instance, we draw on our global track record across some of the world’s most complex capital projects to bring industry leading expertise. Our work at the Port of Newcastle is no different, with the team leaning into this experience to ensure the upgrade is delivered with clarity and consistency.
“Our approach not only supports industry and global trade, but also benefits the wider community, creating opportunities for local contractors, suppliers, and manufacturers. In the long term, upgrades to the Carrington Precinct will strengthen energy infrastructure to support the Port’s future growth and diversification. Once complete, it will reinforce Port of Newcastle as Australia’s premier East Coast gateway for an efficient, resilient, and future ready port.”
