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taringa substation redevelopment
In the past 10 years household demand for electricity in South East Queensland has almost doubled due to lifestyle changes, primarily the increased use of air conditioning. This, together with population and economic growth, will continue to drive significant increases in electricity demand.
ENERGEX’s existing Taringa Substation and some of the feeders from the substation are very close to capacity. In addition, electrical equipment currently housed outdoors is vulnerable to disruption caused by vegetation and wildlife, which can result in a total loss of supply to Taringa and St Lucia Substations.
The current substation on Dopson Street, Taringa supplies over 5700 residents in the areas of Taringa, Indooroopilly and St Lucia, as seen on the below map.
what is ENERGEX proposing?
In order to meet future summer peak periods, prevent disruptions to supply in the Taringa and St Lucia areas, reduce noise from the substation and improve overall amenity, ENERGEX proposes to redesign the existing substation to modern standards. As part of the proposed changes, electrical equipment will be enclosed in three house-sized buildings designed to blend with the facility’s suburban setting.
The substation redevelopment involves:
- demolition of the existing house on site
- construction of two new buildings to house new and existing equipment
- landscaping and revegetation.
the new buildings
When the project is finished, there will be three buildings on site, including the two new, architecturally-designed buildings. These buildings will house ENERGEX’s equipment, making it less vulnerable to the impacts of weather and damage.
By enclosing the equipment in three separate structures, ENERGEX is able to keep each building to a look and scale that fits with surrounding houses. Each of the buildings will vary in design and appearance, and different landscaping treatments will be used to give each building its own character.
Below you will find the existing and proposed views of the substation site from Dopson and Todd Streets.
improving visual amenity through landscaping
To improve visual amenity of the new Taringa Substation, ENERGEX has commissioned landscape architects, Urbis, to develop a detailed landscape and revegetation plan for the site. This plan will make use of drought-hardy native plants that are visually attractive and suitable for local soil and climate conditions.
Where possible, the existing significant local landscape trees (including the tallowwood and mango trees) will be retained. Revegetation will include new planting to provide attractive screening that blends in with the suburban surroundings.
reducing noise levels
ENERGEX understands the current substation, built more than 35 years ago when substation design was limited, emits some noise that may impact local residents. By enclosing the substation, noise will be substantially reduced as a result of the substation refurbishment.
Currently, most of our electrical equipment is housed outdoors. ENERGEX proposes to enclose the electrical equipment inside two new architect-designed buildings. Residents will notice a substantial reduction in noise from the site once this is complete.
when does ENERGEX propose to begin the redevelopment?
Under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009, ENERGEX must obtain approval for the proposed upgrade from Brisbane City Council.
As part of the approval process, ENERGEX will make the proposed design available for public comment and will actively seek community comment and feedback. All comments and feedback received will be considered during development of the final design for the upgrade.
If Council approval for the upgrade is granted, ENERGEX proposes to begin construction in early 2011.
The table below provides information on the consultation process and where the process is to date.
| Activity | Date |
| Preliminary consultation with adjoining landowners prior to lodgement of Development Application | February/March 2010 |
| Lodgement of Development Application with Brisbane City Council | March 2010 |
| Preliminary consultation with wider community | March 2010 |
| Development application available online | March 2010 |
| Preliminary community feedback forwarded to Council | May 2010 |
| Council information request | 13 May 2010 |
| Continuing community consultation | May 2010 |
| ENERGEX response to request for information and preliminary community feedback (up to 6 months) | mid 2010 |
| Public notification period (min 15 business days) | late 2010 |
| Council decision on Development Application | late 2010 |
improvements to the surrounding area
The Taringa Substation redevelopment fits within ENERGEX’s strategic plan to improve reliability of electricity supply in the inner western suburbs of Brisbane, which also includes the St Lucia to Tennyson Project.
This project, due for completion in December 2010, involves constructing two extra feeders from the Tennyson Bulk Supply Substation to the existing St Lucia Zone Substation.
Currently, the St Lucia Zone Substation is only supplied from Taringa. When the St Lucia to Tennyson Project is complete, this substation will be supplied by two feeders from Tennyson and only one feeder from Taringa. This will ensure ongoing reliability of electricity supply for local residents.
preliminary community consultation
Prior to the Council Information Request Period, selected land owners (those who had raised issues/objections with either the existing substation or the proposed project) were invited to write preliminary submissions to ENERGEX. These community feedback submissions, along with the formal development application from ENERGEX, will be used by Council to identify if further information is required.
Once ENERGEX has received the further information request from Council full detailed design for the project will commence. This preliminary stage is important, as having early feedback allows ENERGEX to be accommodating of suggested design changes, where they are appropriate.
Normally, the community are only made aware of a development application at the Public Notification period (which occurs after the information request stage), but due to the residential nature of the surrounding area ENERGEX is committed to the early provision of information about this project in an open and accountable manner.
For some issues however (eg. stormwater run-off), specific detailed design investigations have already commenced to provide specialist advice and solutions to existing issues raised by directly adjacent land owners.
continuing community consultation
An invitation to learn about the proposed project was sent all landowners whose properties share a boundary with the substation site in March 2010. A project newsletter was also sent to neighbours in the surrounding area.
To date, ENERGEX have met with a number of landowners and held briefings with local councillors and members of parliament to discuss the project. At this stage, the aim has been to provide information about the project and gain feedback from interested parties that can be used to form further detailed designs.
Once the council information request period is finalised and detailed designs have been produced, ENERGEX will once again notify local community members and stakeholders about the project.
how can I have my say?
ENERGEX is committed to working with the local community, and has been actively seeking community comment and feedback about the proposal. All feedback will be taken into consideration as we finalise designs.
All interested community members or stakeholder groups are invited to call, email or write to us to obtain more information about the project, or to provide their comments and feedback.
ENERGEX is committed to providing comprehensive and open communication throughout the Taringa Substation upgrade. ENERGEX will also keep the community and stakeholders up to date about the project and consultation process through a combination of project newsletters, adverts in the local press and community information days
contact us
We are committed to continuing to work with the local community, and welcome your feedback. You can use our feedback form or email us to provide your comments.
Alternatively, you can call us on 1300 762 213 to speak with a member of the project team quoting Council's Reference No: A002755824 or Project Number: C0128406.
You can also view the development application online at Brisbane City Council's website. Please use the Council's Reference No: A002755824 to view the application.
further information about this project
- newsletter (744 kb)