There’s more to Ergon Energy than poles and wires

Minister for Mines and Energy Geoff Wilson told State Parliament today there was more to Ergon Energy than poles and wires and that the power distributor was spreading its good work from Cape York to Childers.

Minister Wilson said demolition work would start this week on the second stage of an upgrade of the Childers substation which is being totally rebuilt at a cost of $7.7 million.

“The old substation isn’t heading for the scrap heap either. Huge steel towers from the old substation will end up on the ocean floor where they will form part of an artificial reef,” Mr Wilson said.

The Cochrane Reef is an artificial reef that covers 32 hectares just north of Elliott Heads.

“The reef has been a boon for local eco-tourism,” he said.

“Nature went to work as soon as the first steel towers were laid on the bottom of the ocean late last year. I’m told that the very next day squid eggs were discovered on the steel.

“So, rather than ending up as scrap, these steel towers have been given a new life,” Mr Wilson said.

The Minister said that there was another eco-friendly side to the Childers substation.

“It takes incoming power from a co-generation plant that Ergon Energy has developed at the Isis Sugar Mill.

The 25 MW plant is fired by bagasse, a bi-product of the sugar cane milling process.

“It’s expected to reduce the mill’s greenhouse gas emissions by 50,000 tonnes a year.

“When fully operational, the $23 million plant is expected to turn tonnes of sugar cane waste into environmentally-friendly fuel. This fuel could produce enough electricity to power 7,000 homes a year.

“So from Cape York to Childers and out to Camooweal, there’s more to Ergon Energy than poles and wires,” Mr Wilson said.

Media Inquiries: Ellen McIntyre 3225 1819