Ergon Energy Network has announced that it has begun civil works on the Mossman Substation in Douglas Shire, paving the way for a multimillion-dollar overhaul which will boost the electricity network for communities in the area.
Ergon Energy Far North Area Manager, Charlie Casa, said that the company is building a substation for the future – with a new control building, transformer and other equipment – that will benefit generations to come.
“The Mossman substation supplies more than 3,300 homes and businesses, so it’s a key piece of community infrastructure and a cornerstone of growth and development that we’re making a significant investment in,” Mr Casa said.
The Douglas Shire Network Upgrade also includes the installation of overhead fibre-optic cable on the electricity transmission network, establishing critical communication links between three substations at Mossman, Turkinje and Craiglie. These substations supply more than 30,000 customers.
“This upgrade will help us improve fault response and reduce the impact of unplanned outages on our customers in these areas.
“Our transmission lines crews who will be doing this specialised work on 132,000V power lines have advised property owners that they’ll be in the area and at times they’ll be using helicopters.
“Farmers can rest assured our crews will be working to minimise any disruption to their operations and they take biosecurity protocols very seriously.”
Mount Molloy customers will also notice powerline works in progress this month as crews will be installing new conductors on the 22,000V distribution network.
“The Douglas Shire Network Upgrade is a major project with a lot of moving parts, so we’ll be keeping our customers and communities updated with all the details whenever work is locked in.
“Planned outages are sometimes necessary to give crews safe access to the electricity network and to help them to get the job done more efficiently.
“We’ll always notify affected customers with the details by mail and they can register for free SMS or email outage notifications at www.ergon.com.au/selfservice.
Local Member for Cook, Cynthia Lui, said the upgrade will be welcomed by the local community.
“This is good news for residents in my electorate and will mean more reliable electricity for local homes and businesses.
“We want to ensure the infrastructure of today is suitable for the lifestyle of tomorrow, and I thank local crews for all they do to keep the lights on for our community.”
Featured image: The Mossman substation. Image credit: Ergon Energy Network.
