Empire Bay substation work starts

Energy Australia will start this week to build its Empire Bay substation.

Crews will begin installing fencing and signage around the site this week, as well as conduct site surveys and environmental inspections.

Preparation to build the new substation at Poole Close and Empire Bay Drive follows 12 months of community feedback and protest.

In its attempt to persuade the local community, Energy Australia held resident focus group meetings, three information display sessions and distributed over 2000 project newsletters to local homes and businesses.

Energy Australia claimed an environmental assessment confirmed the project would protect dedicated bushland zones and not increase the fire risk to the area.

However, last week Greens MP Dr John Kaye said: "In 2003 the proposed site was recognised by the Land and Environment Court for its environmental significance and a restriction was created on the permissible uses of the land.

"Energy Australia is acting in direct contravention to the court decision.

"The substation cannot be lawfully built on the Empire Bay site," he said.

Dr Kaye said: "Approximately 20 threatened species forage on the site.

"It also provides habitat for the Regent Honeyeater which has recently been listed as a Critically Endangered Species under the Threatened Species Conservation Act.

"Residents have offered a number of more appropriate locations that would not have such a destructive impact on the environment and the local community.

"They have been thoroughly ignored.

"The Minister has refused to intervene and the Coalition did not support the Greens' motion in the NSW Upper House calling for the development of alternative sites for the new infrastructure."

Energy Australia's general manager engineering Mr Geoff Lilliss said the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) had been considered in the final design of the substation.

"This multi-million dollar project to improve reliability and help meet growing demand in the area will meet all planning requirements and will protect dedicated bushland zones on the site," Mr Lilliss said.

"We recently extended the period for comment on the draft Review of Environmental Factors to allow residents more time to respond to the proposed project.

"We've made some adjustments to the project including modifications to the design and external finish of the substation building.

"Our landscape plan will include a significant number of new plantings around the new substation buildings and will also preserve and enhance the site's bush regeneration area.

"The new substation will also include fire-rated walls and doors and construction materials as part of our commitment to safety.

"We've drawn on expert opinions on flora and fauna, bushfire risks, noise and electro-magnetic fields to make sure this project is safe and secure."

According to Mr Lilliss, about 25 kilometres of new power lines will be installed underground, with only three kilometres being installed overhead.

Building work is expected to begin in January with new electrical equipment scheduled to be installed in the new substation next September.

The Empire Bay substation is expected to supply about 6000 homes and businesses between Empire Bay to Killcare from early 2013.

Media Release, 2 Dec 2010 Kylie Yates, Energy Australia Media Release, 3 Dec 2010 John Kaye, NSW Greens