As the Whitsundays region grows, so does the demand for electricity in the area as homes and businesses install an increasing number of electrical appliances, like air conditioning.

Boosting network capacity and security is about powering lifestyles and the local economy.

To cater for the projected growth in electricity demand, we need to create additional capacity and flexibility in the network to ensure a reliable power supply now and into the future.

To bolster the electricity supply for the area, this project will refurbish and expand the Cannonvale substation.

We will also duplicate key sections of the 66,000-volt underground cable network between the Cannonvale substation and Shute Harbour, providing greater network resilience.

The existing Cannonvale substation control building will remain, and an additional modular building will be built on the site towards the TAFE. The new substation building is designed to minimise any impact on the visual amenity of the area.

Outdoor communications equipment, electrical plant and switchgear will be established in the substation yard to support the substation expansion.

All our substations are fully enclosed by fencing as a security measure to both protect the community and to reduce the risk of damage to electrical infrastructure.

This fencing will be a combination of chain mesh fencing for security purposes, and timber palings to provide screening of the substation from the street and help improve the visual amenity.

Trees will be removed from the site to pave the way for construction and reduce the risk of unplanned outages caused by network damage. In particular, some of the large eucalyptus trees, will be removed, as they are prone to snapping in high winds and bringing down powerlines.

To help offset the removal of vegetation from the site and to improve the visual amenity of the substation, we will be establishing some powerline-friendly screening shrubs in clear areas.

The species of shrubs will be carefully selected for their growing habit or characteristics. We will use native shrubs that provide screening of the infrastructure, habitat for small birds and lizards, and are low growing to stay well outside our clearance zones for powerlines.

We will use a local nursery to assist with the selection of powerline-friendly species and to supply the shrubs.

Low levels of background noise are usual with normal substation operation. The faint hum is expected to be indistinguishable from surrounding sounds, however this will be considered as part of the design.

As part of the environmental impact assessment for a substation site, a noise assessment is carried out in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1994, Environmental Protection Policy (Noise), and noise mitigation measures are put in place where necessary.

A noise assessment for the Cannonvale substation has been completed and noise control measures have been incorporated into the design.

We need to duplicate sections of the underground 66,000-volt – or 66kV – network between Cannonvale substation and Shute Harbour substation. Where possible, we plan to run the new cable adjacent to the existing line.

Since the current line was built, development in the area has progressed so we are looking at the line route options available to us. We’ll be able to provide more information after our detailed design is completed.

We started the detailed design in late 2021 and construction to expand the Cannonvale substation commenced in the 3rd quarter of 2022.

Duplication of sections of the 66,000-volt (66kV) powerline between Cannonvale, Jubilee Pocket, Mt Rooper and Shute Harbour substations commenced in the 4th quarter of 2022.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

We'll continue to provide the community with information about the project and will advise residents of the expected construction dates of each phase as it progresses.