New $14 million substation for Mundubbera

A new $14 million substation that Ergon Energy plans to build on the outskirts of Mundubbera will significantly boost power supplies to the area.

Minister for Mines and Energy Geoff Wilson said Ergon Energy would construct the new substation on a site off Benham’s road next to the existing line that runs beside the Burnett Highway.

“Ergon Energy will begin design work in the near future, with construction work expected to finish in 2009,” said Mr Wilson.

“The new substation will replace the existing substation on the corner of Elizabeth Street and Ryan Avenue.

“The capacity of the new substation will triple that of the existing one.

“The new substation will consist of two bigger transformers,” he said.

Mr Wilson said power would be boosted to around 1500 customers in Mundubbera and surrounding areas.

“This will provide a more reliable power supply for the local community,” said Mr Wilson.

Ergon Energy General Manager Operations (Southern) Craig Harris said the existing site was too small to fit the new equipment required.

“We have made the decision to secure a new site to the town’s north-east, immediately adjacent to the existing powerline that runs between Gayndah and Eidsvold,” Mr Harris said.

“That provides an excellent strategic location to connect to the existing high voltage network, with minimal impact on the community.

“It will be much safer and easier to build on a new site rather than to have our crews working in cramped conditions on the existing location. It will also avoid the need to have an additional powerline running into the middle of Mundubbera.”

Mr Harris said there would also be a spin-off visual benefit from the project

“The location of the existing 66,000-volt lines is the primary reason we have chosen this site for the new substation outside the urban area of Mundubbera,” he said.

“However, a spin-off benefit is that by building the substation there, we will be able to decommission our existing substation in the town. That will involve removing all the substation equipment from the site, which will help improve the aesthetics of the area.”

Ergon Energy intends putting a development application to Mundubbera Shire Council within the next few weeks.

Ergon Energy is delivering significant upgrades to its vast regional Queensland network through a record capital expenditure program of more than $700 million this year.

Ergon Energy’s vast electricity network is one of the largest of its kind operated by a single distributor in the western world.

The network comprises more than 150,000 kilometres of electricity line, about 1 million power poles and 70,000 substations and extends from Birdsville in south west Queensland to Thursday Island in the Torres Strait, over more than 1 million square kilometres or six times the size of Victoria.

Media inquiries: Minister's Office Brooke Johnson (07) 3227 4332

Ergon Energy Andrew Fox 4687 0412 or 0417 726 605