Energex boosts power in Northern Gold Coast

Power supply to the northern Gold Coast is being boosted with a $7.8 million upgrade to the local electricity network, Energy Minister Geoff Wilson said today.

The project, which involves installing a new 60MVA transformer at the Cades County substation on Kopps Road, will double the substation capacity.

A new underground power cable will also be installed from the Cades County substation along the Pacific Motorway Service Road, Hepbour Court, Studio Drive and Village Way, increasing the electricity supply and improving reliability in the area.

The upgrade will benefit residents and businesses in Cades County, Oxenford, Coomera, Helensvale and surrounding areas.

Mr Wilson said a substantial forecast increase in local power usage was the driving force behind the upgrades.

“The Gold Coast is one of the fastest growing parts of South East Queensland, with an average of almost 150 new houses, units and commercial premises connecting to the local electricity network every week,” Mr Wilson said.

“Commercial and residential growth in the area and the increase in use of power-hungry consumer lifestyle products such as home air conditioning has resulted in a sharp increase in power use.”

Member for Albert, Margaret Keech welcomed the upgrade.

“The State Government and Energex are committed to providing a reliable electricity network in the south western suburbs and throughout South East Queensland,” Ms Keech said.

“Models show that the electricity consumption in the northern Gold Coast area is set to rise by around 22 per cent in the next five years. To help ensure we can meet this massive growth, over the past three years Energex has spent more than $330 million upgrading the region’s electricity network.”

“This Cades County substation upgrade will give the area the means to expand and continue to create local jobs without placing undue pressure on the electrical network.”

Ms Keech said once the substation was upgraded and connected with the new underground cable, Energex technicians would have more options to quickly restore power by diverting electricity from other parts of the network should unexpected interruptions occur.

The upgrade is expected to be completed by March 2009.

This latest project comes on the back of the recent commissioning of a $1.1 million project to install two new underground power cables in Coomera.

Ms Keech said Energex thanked locals in advance for their patience during the upgrades and said Energex would ensure any interruptions to traffic along the work route would be kept to a minimum as would any noise of machinery required.

The project is part of a record $4 billion-plus five-year capital expenditure program currently being undertaken by Energex. In the 2007-08 financial year Energex is investing around $800 million on upgrades to its electricity network while a further $300 million-plus has been set aside to maintain and operate the network – an overall average of more than $3 million a day.

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