Sunshine Coast power project to start, boost for local jobs
Sunshine Coast power project to start, boost for local jobs
28 June 2012
Work is due to start next week on the first main stage of Energex’s “SunCoast Power Project” – the biggest integrated electricity project undertaken by the company on the Sunshine Coast.
Construction of a new electricity substation at Pacific Paradise, on Godfreys Road adjacent to Sunshine Motorway, is the first stage of the multi-phased project which will enhance power supplies directly or indirectly to almost 325,000 Sunshine Coast residents and visitors.
Other stages of the SunCoast project include upgrades to Energex’s existing substation at Jones Road, Buderim, construction of a sub-transmission powerline from Palmwoods east to Pacific Paradise and a new switching station at Eudlo.
The contract for the new Pacific Paradise substation has been awarded to experienced Queensland building firm Box&Co, which has been behind a number of other Coast building projects and is currently constructing an apartment complex at Currimundi.
Box&Co has committed to sourcing locally as much materials, haulage services and sub-contractors as practical during the construction process.
Energex’s North Coast Asset Manager Steve Lynch said the SunCoast project would help secure the electricity future of the Sunshine Coast.
“This project has been developed to underpin previous growth and forecast population and energy increases across the City,” he said.
“Sunshine Coast remains one of the country’s fastest growing areas – not just in terms of population, but also in peak time energy use. The population on the Coast has risen by around 40 per cent in the past 12 years, yet peak electricity demand in the same period has gone up by close to 80 per cent.
“Much of this peak energy use rise is due to existing growth in electricity use in Sunshine Coast homes as a result of a rapid uptake of air conditioning, swimming pool penetration and new technologies such as energy intensive televisions, computers and gaming consoles.
“While Sunshine Coasters on average use less energy than most other regions in South East Queensland, it is worth noting that over the past 12 years, the Sunshine Coast’s peak electricity demand increase has not only been above national averages, but percentage wise has been higher than both the Gold Coast and Brisbane.”
The SunCoast project is one of a number of upgrades recently completed, currently underway or planned for the Sunshine Coast. These include investments in nine new substations and sub-transmission upgrades for the northern and southern ends of the Sunshine Coast.
SunCoast is part of a five-year capital expenditure program being undertaken by Energex to upgrade the South East Queensland electricity network.
Energex media enquiries: Office Hours (07) 3664 4420 or After Hours (07) 3664 5191
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