$6M-plus power boost for Moreton homes and businesses

More than 13,000 homes and businesses in the Moreton Bay region are benefiting from a $6 million electricity upgrade, Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson said today.

Mr Wilson said the project, which involved installing two new 33,000-volt underground electricity cables, was one of the largest undertaken in the area.

The upgrade required tunnel boring under the South Pine River and extensive excavation work between Energex’s substation on South Pine Road, in Brendale, terminating just near the cemetery on Old Northern Road, Albany Creek.

Mr Wilson said the projects would help meet the unprecedented growth in the southern Moreton Bay council area.

“Electricity use in the area has risen by more than 30 per cent in the past five years and this increased power use has been forecast to continue,” he said.

“This upgrade will not only improve electricity capacity but will also provide Energex technicians greater switching options to restore power faster after unexpected power interruptions caused by storms, trees hitting powerlines or damage to overhead wires or underground cables.”

This work comes on top of the recently completed $5.2 million upgrade to the Brendale substation which substantially increased the capacity of the power network in suburbs such as Cashmere, Clear Mountain, Draper, Eatons Hill, Warner, Kallangur, Strathpine, Albany Creek, Joyner, Mount Samson and Bray Park.

On behalf of Energex, Mr Wilson thanked residents and motorists for their patience while the works were being undertaken, especially while overhead powerlines were being upgraded or installed.

During the past four years more than $130 million has been invested by Energex upgrading the electricity supplies in the new Moreton Bay Regional Council area (formerly Redcliffe, Pine Rivers and Caboolture councils).

The Brendale to Albany Creek 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 invested an average of more than $3 million a day to upgrade, maintain and operate the South East Queensland power network.

Media inquiries: Minister’s office 3224 7332.