Taringa Substation redevelopment
ENERGEX has received Development Approval from the Brisbane City Council to redevelop the Taringa Substation site at Dopson Street, Taringa.
We would like to thank the local community for its interest in the project and ENERGEX looks forward to working with the community during construction works.
We have started the process of engaging construction contractors and we are updating the construction program. Once the schedule is finalised, we will communicate more detailed information about the project delivery to the local community.
The purpose of this redesign is:
- to meet future summer peak periods
- prevent disruptions to supply in the Taringa and St Lucia areas
- reduce noise from the existing substation site
- improve overall amenity of the location
Why is ENERGEX redeveloping the Taringa Substation?
Electrical equipment housed outdoors is vulnerable to disruption caused by vegetation and wildlife, which can result in a total loss of supply to Taringa and St Lucia Substations.
Some of the 11,000 volt feeders from the Taringa Substation are close to reaching their electrical capacity because of increased energy demand.
In the past 10 years household demand for electricity in South East Queensland has almost doubled due to lifestyle changes, and increases in energy-hungry appliances such as air conditioners.
This, together with population and economic growth, will continue to drive significant increases in electricity demand.
The current substation on Dopson Street, Taringa supplies over 5,700 residents in the areas of Taringa, Indooroopilly and St Lucia, as seen on the below map.
What are the redevelopment plans?
We will enclose the electrical 
equipment in three house-sized buildings designed to blend with the facility’s suburban setting.
The substation redevelopment involves:
- demolition of the existing house on site
- construction of two new buildings to house new and existing equipment
- landscaping and revegetation
The new buildings
When the project is finished, there will be three buildings on site, including the new, architecturally-designed buildings.
These buildings will house ENERGEX’s equipment, making it less vulnerable to the impacts of weather and damage.
By enclosing the equipment in three separate structures, we are able to keep each building to a look and scale that fits with surrounding houses.
Each of the buildings will vary in design and appearance, and different landscaping treatments will give each its own character.
Below you will find the existing and proposed views of the substation site from Todd Street.
Improving visual amenity through landscaping
To improve visual amenity of the new Taringa Substation, we have commissioned landscape architects, Urbis, to develop a detailed landscape and revegetation plan for the site.
This plan will make use of drought-hardy native plants that are visually attractive and suitable for local soil and climate conditions.
After discussions with Council, the existing Tallowwood tree will be retained under the revised proposal, partially screening the site from Todd Street.
Revegetation will include new planting to provide attractive screening that blends in with the suburban surroundings.
Reducing noise levels
We understand that the current substation - built more than 35 years ago when substation design was limited - emits some noise that may impact local residents.
Currently, most of our electrical equipment is housed outdoors. We will enclose the electrical equipment inside two new architect-designed buildings.
By fully enclosing the substation, residents will notice a substantial reduction in noise once this is complete.
Please see our noise maps below.
ENERGEX's timeline
Under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009, we worked to obtain approval for the proposed upgrade from Brisbane City Council.
As part of the approval process, we made the proposed design available for public comment.
As Council approval has been granted, we propose to begin construction in early 2012.
We will update the timeline with construction timings during 2012.
Community consultation
We are committed to working with the local community.
Since February 2010, we have held a number of meetings with neighbouring landowners to discuss how they might be affected by the proposed redevelopment of the Taringa Substation.
In response to feedback, we have made a number of changes to the initial proposal in an effort to reduce the potential impacts on neighbouring properties.
These include:
- The reduction of the transformer building's height from 7.5 metres to 5.5 metres.
- A commitment to upgrade the appearance of the existing control building to improve the visual amenity of the site.
- The removal of asphalt paths around the substation boundary. This increases the planting area to enhance the site’s visual amenity, as well as the overall streetscape.
- The use of timber fencing for screen security fencing, to give the site a ‘friendlier’ appearance.
- The inclusion of windows and battening on the new substation buildings.
This gives the buildings a more ‘domestic’ appearance and scale, in keeping with their residential setting. - An improved stormwater drainage system, to reduce runoff from the substation site to properties in Todd Street in rain events.
The preliminary consultation stage was important. Having early feedback allowed us to accommodate suggested design changes, where appropriate. We will continue to work with the local community during construction.
Contact us
We will keep the community and stakeholders up to date about the project through a combination of project newsletters and adverts in the local press.
Please contact the Project Team to discuss any issues.
Phone:
1300 762 213
Email:
The Taringa Substation Redevelopment Project Team Project Number: C0062273.
Write to:
ENERGEX Taringa Substation Upgrade
Reply Paid 1461
Brisbane QLD 4001
Follow us on twitter.com/energex.
For Translating and Interpreter Service (TIS) National call 131450.
If you would like to receive project updates, register your name and address on our feedback form.
Publications
New publications - Newsletter 4 (May 2012)
- Newsletter 1 (PDF 743.3 kb)
- Newsletter 2 (PDF 2.6 mb)
- Newsletter 3 (PDF 1.1 mb)
- Newsletter 4 (PDF 265.6 kb)
- Taringa Negiotated Decision Notice (PDF 654.5 kb)
- Appendix 1 (PDF 7.3 mb)
- Appendix 2 (PDF 9.1 mb)
- Appendix 3 (PDF 961.0 kb)
- Appendix 4 (PDF 10.1 mb)
- Appendix 5 (PDF 1.9 mb)
- Appendix 6 (PDF 17.6 mb)
- Appendix 7 (PDF 8.9 mb)
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