Powerful boost for southern Gold Coast homes and businesses

Work is underway on a $2.3 million upgrade of electricity supplies to the southern Gold Coast which will boost capacity to cater for future growth.

Minister for Mines and Energy Geoff Wilson said the key component of the project was the installation of around 2.3km of underground cable between ENERGEX’s Kirra substation in Miles Street to the main business precinct in Coolangatta.

“Once completed the upgrade will provide a strengthened electricity supply to more than 3000 homes and businesses on the southern Gold Coast,” Mr Wilson said.

Mr Wilson said the project would not only boost electricity supplies, it would also provide ENERGEX technicians with more options to restore power faster should unexpected damage occur to the network.

“The Gold Coast is one of the fastest growing parts of ENERGEX’s South East Queensland distribution area with an average of around 150 new houses, units and commercial premises connecting to the local electricity network every week,” he said.

“To meet this massive growth, over the past three years ENERGEX has spent more than $330 million upgrading the region’s electricity network.

Works associated with the project involve excavating to lay new cables. As a precaution, safety barriers will be installed around the works site and safety controllers will direct traffic.

ENERGEX will take all reasonable measures to reduce inconvenience to the community and regrets any disruption caused during this important upgrade to the local power network.

The project is part of a record $4 billion-plus five-year capital expenditure program currently being undertaken by ENERGEX. This year ENERGEX is investing $827 million 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

13 November 2007