Keeping up with massive growth in the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is expanding so quickly that electricity supplier Energex has recently had to double the capacity of one of its local electricity substations.

The $2.3 million upgrade of the Coomera substation involved the installation of a second 25 MVA transformer supplying electricity to more than 6500 local homes and businesses in northern regions of the Gold Coast.

According to Energex’s power usage statistics, electricity consumption in the area has increased by 20% in the last two years and is forecast to grow another 21% over the next three years.

“In anyone’s language, 41% growth in just four years is a massive jump in power usage and is well above most areas on the South East Queensland electricity grid,” said Energex Network Programs Group Manager Kevin Ball. “And with the population in the area expected to reach 60,000 people over the next 20 years, the northern Gold Coast is one of Energex’s targeted areas that we’ll have to monitor closely to ensure there’s enough capacity in the local power grid to facilitate the anticipated growth.”

To meet this massive growth, in the past four years Energex has spent more than $440 million upgrading the Gold Coast City’s electricity network.

Among the recent major projects either completed or nearing completion in the region are a $5 million-plus upgrade to supplies in the Staplyton-Yatala area, a $5.5 million substation at Staplyton, a million-dollar expansion of underground electricity network between Coomera Waters and Hope Island, a $7 million upgrade to the Robina substation, a $25 million upgrade to supplies between Burleigh and the desalination plant at Tugun, and the establishment of a $5 million replacement substation at Currumbin.

The projects are part of a $4 billion five-year capital expenditure program currently being undertaken by Energex, with $830 million being invested on upgrades to its electricity network in the 2008–09 financial year.