$9.6 million power boost for Maroochy Shire

More than 13,000 homes and businesses will benefit from the recent completion of a two-year, $9.6 million electricity upgrade in Maroochy Shire that will more than double the available electricity supply to the fast-growing central Sunshine Coast area.

The project involves the installation of a new transformer at ENERGEX’s West Maroochydore substation and three new underground electricity cables in the Shire.

Minister for Mines and Energy Geoff Wilson said the substation upgrade would more than double local electricity capacity, while the three new underground electricity cables would further strengthen the ability to deliver the additional power.

“The three underground cables are around the Jones Road substation, two to the north and one to the west,” Mr Wilson said.

“Analysis of the growth in demand for electricity highlights that some areas of the Sunshine Coast are growing by up to 12 percent a year – easily one of the highest rises in Australia.

“This demand growth is not likely to slow in the foreseeable future with an additional 150,000 people expected to be living on the Sunshine Coast area in the next 15 years,” he said.

Mr Wilson said that more than $160 million had been spent on electricity upgrade projects in ENERGEX’s North Coast area (which includes the Sunshine Coast, Gympie and hinterland areas) in the past two years.

“And this infrastructure boost is set to continue with a range of current and future projects on the drawing board.

“These include current major projects at Caloundra, Peregian Springs and Sunrise Hills,” Mr Wilson said.

Planning is also advancing on ENERGEX’s SunCoast Power Project – a $40 million-plus sub-transmission line between Palmwoods and Pacific Paradise which will be the Coast’s biggest individual power project.

Mr Wilson said the West Maroochydore project was part of a record $4 billion-plus five-year capital expenditure program currently being undertaken by ENERGEX.

ENERGEX is investing $827 million on upgrades to its electricity network this year 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 contact: Brooke Johnson (07) 3224 7332