Minister for Mines and Energy Geoff Wilson said today Ergon Energy would spend $259.7 million on capital works in Central Queensland 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 significant power projects in Central Queensland will include:

·$100 million in supply reinforcement works to help meet booming demand for power in Mackay,

·Work on the first stage of a $20.5 million zone substation and high voltage feeder project at Airlie Beach,

·Almost $19 million worth of power reinforcement projects in North Rockhampton,

·More than $15 million in substation-related projects on the Capricorn Coast and

·Completion of the $47.5 million powerline and substation in the Agnes Waters district.

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 Keppel Paul Hoolihan welcomed the planned expenditure, saying it would provide a more reliable power supply for local communities across the region.

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

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.