Almost 6000 homes and businesses, including the new Gold Coast University Hospital, will directly or indirectly benefit from a new $15.3 million electricity substation to be built by ENERGEX at Parkwood, Queensland, Australia.
The utility has unveiled plans for the new substation along with a range of associated electricity upgrades. The new substation will provide the required electricity to run the new hospital when it opens as well as meeting the continued residential and commercial growth in the Parkwood and surrounding suburbs including Southport, Labrador, Molendinar, Arundel and the Parklands area.
ENERGEX South Coast Asset Manager Gary Madigan said electricity use – especially at peak times – is expected to double in the next six years. “The northern Gold Coast suburbs have experienced tremendous growth in recent times and with this development comes the need for upgraded electrical infrastructure,” he said.
“Domestic power use – especially at peak times – has risen on average around 50 to 70 per cent in the past 10 years due in the main to a rapid take up of electricity hungry lifestyle products such as affordable home air-conditioning, larger televisions and other energy intensive household products.
“This domestic energy use, combined with rising commercial and industrial power consumption, means it is essential that ENERGEX continues to provide a safe and reliable electricity supply that meets community expectations.”
Madigan said extensive effort has been taken to ensure the new substation to be constructed alongside the new hospital will fit in with the surrounding buildings.
Along with the new substation, upgrades will also be made to the underground and overhead power network in the area. Weather permitting the new substation is expected to be completed in late 2012.
