Forrestdale Zone substation
Forrestdale zone substation site - the Project
To meet an increasing demand for electricity in the Forrestdale area, Western Power is proposing to construct a new 132,000 volt (132 kV) zone substation at a Western Power owned site, located at 440 Nicholson Road, Forrestdale.
This requirement has come about largely due to new subdivisions planned for the area, an increase in power use throughout the community, and to offload the existing substations which currently serve the area as the power demand from them is growing too.
The substation will service existing residents and new developments within about a 5 km radius of the site. It is located at this site as it is central to the area that requires the power, plus meets Western Power’s technical requirements and allows for an easy connection into our existing network.
The substation location, being set back from Nicholson Road by around 200 metres, means there are good screening opportunities between the road, surrounding homes and the substation.
132 kV transmission line
Western Power is also proposing to construct a new 132 kV transmission line to connect our existing transmission line into the substation, as shown below. The line is required to transfer power into the substation, so that it can then be fed out to homes and businesses. The transmission line will be constructed from steel poles, approximately 25 metres in height. Western Power will work with local landowners to discuss the placement of these poles.
What is a zone substation?
Zone substations receive high voltage electricity from transmission lines, and convert this electricity to a lower voltage, for delivery to homes and businesses within a local community. There are approximately 140 zone substations throughout our network. It is important to note that zone substations need to be located close to the communities that they service.
Project timelines
| Works description | Works timeline |
|---|---|
| Environmental and other approvals sought | By end 2011 |
| Commence construction of transmission line | Mid 2012 |
| Commence construction of substation | Mid 2012 |
| Substation and line in-service | End 2014 |
*Please note, this timeline is indicative only, and may change depending on other projects occurring around our network, or changes in demand forecasts for the area.
Useful resources
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Photo of existing poles, similar to what will be used for this project
- Western Power's Presentation to Forrestdale Community Association (PDF 42mb - large file)
To view PDF files you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.
