High voltage reinforcement to Port of Townsville and CBD

Power supply to Townsville’s booming port and CBD area has been boosted with a new $36 million high voltage transmission line and substation.

The new powerline, between the Townsville South substation and a new substation at Townsville East, is part of Powerlink Queensland’s $120 million investment in the region.

Minister for Mines and Energy Geoff Wilson said the project would help meet the growing electricity demands in the North’s “capital”.

“The Bligh Government is looking beyond the horizon and building tomorrow’s Queensland today,” he said.

“Electricity demand in the Townsville area has increased by 4.6 per cent per year over the past five years and is forecast to increase by another 3.6 per cent per year over the next five years.

“This, and other Powerlink projects underway in the region, will help ensure this demand can be met now and into the future. In particular, it will support future commercial and residential growth within the CBD and Port of Townsville area.”

Powerlink Chief Executive Gordon Jardine said the new powerline and substation would underpin the major development occurring in the Townsville area.

“The Townsville population continues to grow strongly, with the annual average growth rate between 2001 and 2026 in the new Townsville City projected to be 1.7 per cent,” Mr Jardine said.

“The new Townsville South to Townsville East project and the other transmission developments in the area will help underpin the essential facilities and services to support this growth.”

Mr Jardine thanked the local community for their patience during construction work.

Other transmission line projects recently completed or underway in the Townsville area include:

·A new transmission line between Bohle River and the Townsville Gas Turbine, completed in November 2007.

·A new transmission line between the Ross and Townsville South substations, completed in November 2007

·A new transmission line between the Ross and Yabulu South substations. Construction is underway and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2009.

Media contact: Minister’s office 3224 7332.