High voltage electricity to go underground

Gosford Council has agreed to allow the installation of underground electricity cables in an existing electricity easement in Australia Ave, Umina.

Under the proposal, the existing overhead 66kV transmission feeder main and a new high voltage 11kV cable would be placed underground to improve reliability and switching in the network.

When installed, the 11kV feeder would be underground from the Umina Zone Substation to the existing underground development in Australia Ave.

The project would also remove about 600 metres of overhead high voltage 11kV mains in the vicinity of McEvoy Ave, Bapaume Ave and Priestman Ave.

The site of the easement is a drainage reserve and Council has agreed that the terms of the easement be drafted to allow for any underground works on the eastern side of the existing easement to allow for maximum widening of the drain on the western side should the need arise.

According to Gosford Council's director corporate services Mr Nic Pasternatsky, the surface drain is currently at its limit in containing peak flows and would need widening in the future to contain additional flows and to allow for climate change impacts and possible rock lining.

"It is recommended that the underground cable be laid as close as possible to the outer boundaries of the drainage reserve, which is the eastern side under the access track to allow for maximum widening of the drain on the western side," Mr Pasternatsky stated in the report to Council.

Ausgrid has advised that the cable would be laid on the eastern side of Lot 3 within the existing eight metre wide overhead easement which would leave approximately 22 metres from the property on the western side of the drainage reserve to the edge of the existing easement.

Gosford Council agenda COR.106, 23 Oct 2012