$900,000 powerful boost for Brisbane’s western suburbs

Homes and businesses in Brisbane’s western suburbs will benefit from a recently completed project to upgrade two of the powerlines that supply Energex’s Kenmore substation.

The project included installing new substation equipment, upgrading sections of the overhead power network and replacement of the cables under the Western Freeway intersection with Moggill Road.

Minister for Mines and Energy Geoff Wilson said the upgrade was among a number of electricity supply improvements in the western suburbs in recent years to meet the growing demand for power.

This includes the recent $6 million upgrade at the Kenmore substation in Mirbelia Street – significantly enhancing available capacity for electricity supplies to the local community.

Combined the projects will benefit more than 8,300 homes and businesses in parts of Kenmore, Kenmore Hills, Pullenvale, Brookfield, Upper Brookfield, Chapel Hill, Fig Tree Pocket and Pinjarra Hills.

“Brisbane’s western suburbs are among the fastest growing areas in Energex’s South East Queensland electricity network with current and predicted growth in power demand increasing by more than 30% in the past five years,” Mr Wilson said.

“The growth has been a result of many factors including significant local commercial and domestic growth, affordable home air-conditioning, and the fact that households and businesses are using far more electricity than five years ago.

“Importantly the projects will provide Energex technicians more switching options to restore power faster should unexpected damage occur to the network,” he said.

Mr Wilson thanked residents and motorists for their patience while the underground cabling works were being undertaken.

The project is part of a record $4 billion-plus five-year capital expenditure program currently being undertaken by Energex. Energex is investing $827 million this year on upgrades to its electricity network while a further $306 million has been set aside to maintain and operate the network – that’s an overall average of more than $3 million a day.

Media inquiries: Brooke Johnson (07) 3224 7332