Ergon Energy wishes to clarify some aspects of your report regarding our plans for a new substation at Ballandean and the power line between that site and the Stanthorpe substation.
Ergon Energy purchased and gained approval for the substation site at Ballandean several years ago to ensure we can meet the future needs of the region.
The line route will primarily follow the existing line between Stanthorpe and Ballandean and agreement has been reached with landholders along three short sections of about a kilometre in total, where it will deviate.
As an interim measure to improve the power supply to customers in Ballandean and further along the existing 11kV line route, Ergon Energy plans to rebuild the existing line from Stanthorpe to Ballandean, plus the new sections.
This line will be designed and constructed to be capable of carrying electricity at 33kV in readiness for the time when the substation is built. Until then, it will be energised at 11kV, the same as the existing power line.
Environmental and cultural heritage assessments and works planning for the rebuild have been completed and clearing for access along the line route will begin in the next three months. The construction project will begin next year.
During construction, the future Ballandean substation site will be used as a temporary generator site to minimise power supply interruptions to customers while crews replace the powerlines.
If anyone would like further information about this project, they can telephone Ergon Energy on 13 10 46.
Matt Gleeson
Area Operations Manager – Darling Downs
Ergon Energy
