A huge energy scheme that will benefit more than 50,000 Sunshine Coast homes and businesses is well underway.
Construction has amplified on the $109.75 million SunSouth Power Project, which will include 18km of new powerlines and underground cable from a new substation at Bells Creek to Meridan Plains.
An Energex spokesperson told Sunshine Coast News the system would provide a spark to much of the region.
“The project will bolster power to the rapidly growing communities in the Sunshine Coast’s southern regions and cater for increased load drawn from existing properties in the Caloundra area,” they said.
The project is expected to benefit homes and businesses between Caloundra and Aura, and support 15 planned educational facilities and commercial retail centres.
“The 132,000-volt project, which is a mix of overhead and underground construction, will provide the power needed to support the modern lifestyle of the community’s current and future residents,” the spokesperson said.
“It’ll also help support the community’s emerging technology choices such as electric vehicles and home batteries, as well as accommodating their rooftop solar needs.
“Furthermore, once the new Bells Creek substation comes online it will take significant load off the existing Caloundra substation and will be beneficial during severe weather events, allowing our technical staff to divert power between both areas, enabling faster restoration if storms or other unexpected issues interrupt supply.”
Construction started earlier this year with the installation of the underground conduits through the Stockland Aura development.
Civil construction started at the substation site in June, after the tender was awarded to Bryant Building Contractors, and is expected to be completed early next year, before electrical works proceed.
The substation is due for commissioning in early 2027.
The state government recently spruiked the $109.8 million commitment to help support residential growth, as part of its Cheaper Energy Plan.
The SunSouth project webpage stated that the proposed height of concrete or steel poles would range from 15m to 22m.
It stated that the selection of the powerline route was based on: minimising the potential impact on homes and businesses, recreation areas, scenic and tourism areas, conservation and heritage areas, and areas zoned for future development; avoiding extremely rough or steep terrain, including water bodies, where possible; minimising clearing of native vegetation and its potential habitat values and any impact on endangered and vulnerable ecosystems, or threatened flora and fauna species; and minimising the impact on small land parcels and cultivated land.
It also detailed noise impacts.
“Low levels of background noise are associated with normal substation operation, however, in the community the faint hum is generally indistinguishable from surrounding sounds,” it said.
“As part of the environmental impact assessment for a substation site, a noise assessment is carried out in … and where necessary, noise reduction measures are put in place.”
Energex also addressed health questions on its website.
“When substations and powerlines are discussed, many people ask about electromagnetic fields,” it said.
“EMF are generated by any object with electric current flowing through it, including powerlines and all electrical appliances used in homes, such as televisions, washing machines, microwaves, hair dryers and computers.
“The level of EMF from powerlines depends on the amount of current flowing along the lines.
“Fields decrease rapidly in strength the further you move away from the source.
“Fortunately, EMF can be reduced by the configuration of substation infrastructure and powerlines. The project team will design the powerlines with this in mind. Our standards for EMF emissions continue to be better than those required by Australian and international health authorities.
“Along the proposed line route and at the substation boundary, EMF levels are expected to be well within the limits required by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection and similar to those encountered in daily life. Tests will confirm this during a survey of the proposed powerline route and substation site before the project is completed.”
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