Mackay city residents and businesses can breathe a little easier at the next major weather event, with the official opening of the city’s new flood-resilient substation.

The $28 million dollar Mackay City Substation at Tennyson Street is designed to withstand a one in 200-year flood event.

The major project has involved the installation of two new transformers, a control room, operating switchgear and power cables.

The substation in now electrically commissioned, improving the quality and reliability of homes and businesses in Mackay.

Ergon is continuing work on the site, including recovering old underground cables and conduit, demolishing the old substation, and building a new car park.

The energy resilience of the Mackay region has been further bolstered with the announcement a new network-connected battery will be installed next to Ergon’s Substation on Peachs Road, Marian South.

The 4 MW / 8 MWh battery is part of the second stage of Energy Queensland’s local network-connected batteries project, which is delivering 12 new batteries in communities across the stage.

The battery will store excess renewable energy produced by solar PV systems during the day and discharge it in the evening when electricity demand is typically higher.

Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert said:

“The new Mackay City Substation is supporting more than 4,600 customers with the capacity to cater for the future needs of the central business district, including the tourism and entertainment precinct.

“Based on build back better principles and past experiences such as impact of the 1971 floods on Tennyson Street, the new substation is designed to withstand a one in 200-year flood event.

“This is a complex project which has taken time to design, construct and commission, but the community will reap the benefits of the new substation for many years to come.”