Work starts on $22 million Kearneys Spring substation

Construction work has begun on a $22 million project to establish Ergon Energy’s new Kearneys Spring substation in southern Toowoomba.

Minister for Mines and Energy Geoff Wilson said the new substation would boost power to more than 8,000 customers.

Minister Wilson said tree clearing and earthmoving was underway on the Kearney Street site.

“Ergon Energy has completed the detailed design and planning and has finalised the contractual arrangements with construction contractor Areva T&D.

“This signals the green light for serious construction work on the substation,” he said.

Member for Toowoomba North Kerry Shine said the substation was expected to be completed by the end of the year.

“The new substation at Kearneys Spring will meet the booming demand for power in southern Toowoomba,” said Mr Shine.

“From day one of operation, the substation will supply power to about 8,000 customers in this fast-growing part of the city.

“It will not only cater for future growth but also relieve the load on our other substations in Toowoomba, allowing them to also handle continued growth,” he said.

Mr Shine said there were two main components involved in the project – the substation itself, which will cost around $15 million; and the underground cabling needed to connect outgoing supply lines into the existing network, which will cost around $7 million.

Ergon Energy Regional Services Manager Dave Heberlein said the first stage of the substation itself would involve earthworks and other civil works such as installing drainage and building foundations.

“The most noticeable aspect of the first stages of work will probably be the trenching required for the underground cabling,” said Mr Heberlein.

“To supply power to customers, we need to connect the substation to the existing Toowoomba network.

“To do that, we need to install a number of underground cables that will link the outgoing feeder lines to the existing overhead network.

“Installing those underground cables means digging trenches and laying conduits so that the cable can later be pulled through.”

Mr Heberlein said the trenching and laying off conduits would take about three-months to complete.

“The trenches will be dug along footpaths and on the side of the road in places. There may be some disruptions to traffic flows in different areas at different times, and residents will also notice trucks carting away the excess dirt.

Trenches will be dug as follows:

• On an existing easement on land west of Kearney Street, from the substation site north to Nelson Street;
• On the southern side of Nelson Street, from Kearney Street through to West Street, then round the corner to Baker Street;
• On the southern side of Nelson Street, from Kearney Street through to Hume Street. (The cabling will dog-leg to the south and pass under Ruthven Street to avoid the intersection upgrade taking place)
• Across Nelson Street from the southern side to the northern side, extending a few metres down the western side of Kearney Street.

The investment in the Kearneys Spring substation is part of the record $796 million Ergon Energy is spending on capital works in 2007/2008.

Media inquiries: Minister’s Office Brooke Johnson (07) 3224 7332

Ergon Energy Andrew Fox (07) 4687 0412 or 0417 726 605