❓ Hon. Matt Benson-Lidholm questions the Minister for Energy regarding Western Power's plans to reinforce the power network in Geraldton, including costs, infrastructure, and timelines. The Minister provides details on potential solutions and cost estimates.
AnsweredQoN 269Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WESTERN POWER — NETWORK — GERALDTON
269. Hon MATT BENSON-LIDHOLM to the Minister for Energy:
I refer to
Western Power's current plans to reinforce the power network in the
central Geraldton area.
(1) What new
substation and power connection infrastructure does the project require?
(2) What is
the estimated cost of the power network reinforcement project?
(3) Does Western
Power plan to use overhead poles, underground cables or a combination of both
to link the existing Rangeway substation to a new Geraldton port substation,
and what are the differences in costings for each of the three options?
(4) What is the
anticipated completion date for the project?
269. Hon MATT BENSON-LIDHOLM to the Minister for Energy:
I refer to
Western Power's current plans to reinforce the power network in the
central Geraldton area.
(1) What new
substation and power connection infrastructure does the project require?
(2) What is
the estimated cost of the power network reinforcement project?
(3) Does Western
Power plan to use overhead poles, underground cables or a combination of both
to link the existing Rangeway substation to a new Geraldton port substation,
and what are the differences in costings for each of the three options?
(4) What is the
anticipated completion date for the project?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question. It is a good question.
(1) Western Power
is currently assessing options to reinforce the Geraldton CBD and Geraldton
port area. An option under consideration involves installing a new substation
in the port area, along with a 132 000-volt—132-kilovolt—transmission
line between the existing Rangeway substation and the potential new port
substation. This option would also cater for reinforcement of the CBD network,
allowing for improved power reliability and the future power requirements of
the CBD area.
(2) For the
option of building a new port substation, the estimated cost of this power
project is in the range of $35 million to $60 million depending on whether
overhead, cable or a combination of both is used to connect the potential new
substation.
(3) The new
transmission line could be built overhead, underground or a combination of the
two between Rangeway and the potential new port substation. Western Power
informs me that an underground cable connection would be approximately five to
six times more expensive than an overhead line. As an indication, a
double-circuit overhead line is estimated to cost approximately $5 million, as
opposed to $25 million to $30 million for double-circuit underground cables.
However, maintenance costs for the coastal environment in Geraldton will be
factored into the cost of overhead lines over the life of the asset. Western
Power will continue to work with the community and other stakeholders, and will
also consider all technical, environmental and social issues associated with
overhead lines, including investments made by the City of Greater Geraldton,
when selecting the preferred option.
(4) This project
is strongly driven by large port consumers and their required in-service date.
At present, I understand the preferred solution will be identified by early
2013 with the earliest completion by 2015.
honourable member for some notice of the question. It is a good question.
(1) Western Power
is currently assessing options to reinforce the Geraldton CBD and Geraldton
port area. An option under consideration involves installing a new substation
in the port area, along with a 132 000-volt—132-kilovolt—transmission
line between the existing Rangeway substation and the potential new port
substation. This option would also cater for reinforcement of the CBD network,
allowing for improved power reliability and the future power requirements of
the CBD area.
(2) For the
option of building a new port substation, the estimated cost of this power
project is in the range of $35 million to $60 million depending on whether
overhead, cable or a combination of both is used to connect the potential new
substation.
(3) The new
transmission line could be built overhead, underground or a combination of the
two between Rangeway and the potential new port substation. Western Power
informs me that an underground cable connection would be approximately five to
six times more expensive than an overhead line. As an indication, a
double-circuit overhead line is estimated to cost approximately $5 million, as
opposed to $25 million to $30 million for double-circuit underground cables.
However, maintenance costs for the coastal environment in Geraldton will be
factored into the cost of overhead lines over the life of the asset. Western
Power will continue to work with the community and other stakeholders, and will
also consider all technical, environmental and social issues associated with
overhead lines, including investments made by the City of Greater Geraldton,
when selecting the preferred option.
(4) This project
is strongly driven by large port consumers and their required in-service date.
At present, I understand the preferred solution will be identified by early
2013 with the earliest completion by 2015.
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