Gin Gin’s ageing substation is to be rebuilt and revitalised, with work underway on a three-year rebuild. The $22.8 million project is in plans to allow the 47-year old substation to continue for up to five more decades. Work is expected to be completed in 2020.
The Gin Gin substation project is located roughly 70 kilometres from Bundaberg, with the rebuild has already replaced the substation’s 275kV and 132kV switchyard primary equipment, and reinforce gantry footings thanks to specialised crews.
“Powerlink crews and contractors will carry out the work, which will support up to 25 jobs over three years,” said Energy Minister, Dr Anthony Lynham.
Powerlink is in motion to stage the work over the next three years, with plans to minimise impact to the network and customers whilst maintain consistent energy supply to communities and industries in areas such as Childers, to the lengths of Agnes Waters and as far west as Gayndah.
Substations are a site where electricity is supplied by long-distance (high-voltage) transmission lines are transformed and/or regulated for local (low-voltage) distribution. Meaning reliable supply is critical to support economic growth across the region.
“This high voltage substation has served the region for almost 50 years and with the rebuild work it will continue to serve Queenslanders well into the future,” said Dr Lynham.
This comes after extensive assessments from Powerlink on the substations primary equipment showing information that it was approaching the end of its technical service life. Micropiling of gantry footings will also take place within an existing substation. In a first for Powerlink, this is a technique which effectively replaces the foundations of the structures holding the power lines above the equipment inside the substation.
“This rebuild will not only ensure the ongoing reliability of the region’s power supply but prepare the facility to meet future energy needs of the community and industry, particularly with more renewables connecting into the network,” voiced Powerlink Chief Executive, Merryn York.
“Our focus on planning, design and managing possible impacts to the network means we are continually looking at ways we can better deliver our work in a safe, reliable and cost-efficient manner, connecting customers to the energy they need as part of providing electricity to almost four million people,” said York.