Minister for Mines and Energy Geoff Wilson said today Ergon Energy would spend $116.1 million on capital works in the Wide Bay region in the 2008-09 financial year.

“The Bligh Government is spending $1.9 million every hour of every day to build our state’s infrastructure,” he said.

“We are planning for and managing our growth by investing in regional Queensland’s electricity network.”

Mr Wilson said major works in the Wide Bay region would include:

·$12 million and $9.5million upgrades to the Maryborough and Childers substations, respectively,

·$14 million refurbishment of the Mundubbera substation, and

·$28.7 million reinforcement of supply to Bundaberg city.

The planned spend is part of Ergon Energy’s $1.07 billion capital works program, the largest in the company’s history.

Installing network control technology would also reduce the impacts of power interruptions, he said.

Member for Hervey Bay Andrew McNamara welcomed the planned expenditure, saying it would provide a more reliable power supply for local communities in the region.

“Access to a reliable energy supply is important to support the rapid population growth and development taking place on the Fraser Coast,” Mr McNamara said.

“We’re investing in more than electricity infrastructure, we’re investing in the people who live and work in Wide Bay.”

The Ergon Energy network comprises more than 150,000 kilometres of electricity line, about 1 million power poles and 70,000 substations and extends from Birdsville in south west Queensland to Thursday Island in the Torres Strait, over more than 1 million square kilometres or six times the size of Victoria.

Media inquiries: Minister’s office 3224 7332.