$18 million boost for city’s north

More than 80,000 homes and businesses in Brisbane’s outer northern suburbs are set to benefit from more than $18 million worth of power upgrades.

Minister for Mines and Energy Geoff Wilson said seven projects were either underway or recently completed by Energex in the city’s north.

“A $6 million upgrade in the Deception Bay-Hays Inlet area has recently been completed,” Mr Wilson said.

“It will improve the power supply to nearly 25,000 homes and businesses.

“A new cable was installed running from the Hays Inlet power substation at McKillop Street to the Deception Bay substation on Lipscombe Road.

“The upgrade has provided additional capacity and an alternative power supply to homes and businesses in Deception Bay, Kallangur, Mango Hill and Narangba.

“Deception Bay is in the midst of a population boom.

“Population booms like this result in a significant increase in demand for electricity.

“In fact, power usage is expected to grow by around 9% over the next year alone,” he said.

Mr Wilson said another major project currently in the northern suburbs was the $7.4 million upgrade of the Brendale substation.

“Two new transformers are being installed at Brendale to boost power to people in Samford, Arana Hills, Albany Creek and Strathpine,” he said.

Another Energex project currently in progress in the local area is the installation of a new $3 million transformer at the Kallangur substation.

“Energex has just finished three major projects in the northern suburbs,” Mr Wilson said.

These include $900,000 to install new underground cables around the Albany Creek substation, a $600,000 upgrade in the Strathpine area and new underground cables in Mango Hill at a cost of $400,000.

Energex is spending $643 million this year on the electricity network while a further $263 million has been set aside to maintain and operate the network.

Energex supplies electricity to around 2.7 million people in south east Queensland.

The company’s distribution area of 25,000 square kilometres includes almost 50,000km of underground and overhead electricity lines and cables, over half a million power poles, some 40,000 transformers and more than 260,000 street lights.

Media Inquiries: Brooke Johnson (07) 3224 7332