Mrs PADGHAM-PURICH - 1996-10-17
This week, there has been a complaint in the media about power services to residents in the Litchfield Shire. What steps is the Power and Water Authority taking to improve these services?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, indeed there has been some discussion in the media about difficulties with the transmission of power in the Darwin rural area. Everyone would be aware that delivering electricity to these areas is not an easy task. In many instances, the power supply is on single feeder lines with the intention of supplying as many people as possible. Every year, there are improvements in the delivery of that service. However, it is important that we make public what is occurring in this regard.
In fact, in relation to Mr Reid, who placed the advertisement in the newspaper, there were a number of problems relating to delivery of power in his area over the 12- month period. There have been a total of 49 outages over the last 12 months, resulting from trees falling on or interfering with the powerlines. It is interesting to note that the average outage time was from 30 to 92 minutes. There were certainly quick response times in those areas. Another 5 outages related to insulator failure and a ground aerial. In 2 instances, no problem was found. Thus, there have been some problems out that way. However, on the positive side, in the last 12 months, a number of improvements have been effected in the reticulation of rural electricity and I will indicate these:
. 22 kV tie line between Hopewell Road and Kentish Road.
. 22 kV tie line between 19-Mile and the Stuart Highway north.
. 22 kV remote controllable recloser at Middle Point.
. 22 kV section sectionaliser at Southport.
. 22 kV sectionaliser at the Old Bynoe Road.
. 22 kV sectionaliser at Meade Road.
. McMinns/Humpty Doo, a 66 kV bypass insulator (maintenance).
. City zone/Cox Peninsula 66 kV bypass insulator (maintenance).
In addition, a number of projects are in hand for that area:
. 22 kV remote controllable recloser at Strangways/Zamia Road.
. 22 kV remote controllable recloser at Pioneer Road/Acacia Road.
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. 22 kV sectionaliser at Lakewood.
. 22 kV sectionaliser at Sunter Road.
. 22 kV at Jenkens Road.
. 22 V at McMinns Lagoon.
. 2 kV aerial interconnection between McMinns zone substation and Humpty Doo substation (Strangways Road to
Lambells Lagoon). That interconnection makes a loop which gives much more stability to power. As well, a 22kV aerial
bypass is planned for Humpty Doo pub and school, which is currently on a radial feed, and replacement of a 22kV OCR at
Palmerston by a circuit breaker.
Extensive work is being done. The Power and Water Authority is very active in that rural area with the sole aim of improving the delivery of power. It is important to note also that three 2-man crews are on call 24-hours a day in the Darwin rural area. These crews garage a fully-equipped truck at their homes on a rotational basis. It has been proven that they are able to provide a very fast response time. In fact, it is faster than garaging a vehicle at the depot at the 19-Mile. By the on-duty crew having a vehicle at home, that service has been improved. Continual work is being done on trying to improve the technical equipment levels to continue to provide the best in service delivery for the rural area.
In relation to Mr Reid and his advertisement, the department has been attempting to contact him to see if he would like a full briefing. I would be very happy to take him on a tour to show him what is occurring and make him au fait with the plans that are in train to further improve the supply of power in the rural area.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, indeed there has been some discussion in the media about difficulties with the transmission of power in the Darwin rural area. Everyone would be aware that delivering electricity to these areas is not an easy task. In many instances, the power supply is on single feeder lines with the intention of supplying as many people as possible. Every year, there are improvements in the delivery of that service. However, it is important that we make public what is occurring in this regard.
In fact, in relation to Mr Reid, who placed the advertisement in the newspaper, there were a number of problems relating to delivery of power in his area over the 12- month period. There have been a total of 49 outages over the last 12 months, resulting from trees falling on or interfering with the powerlines. It is interesting to note that the average outage time was from 30 to 92 minutes. There were certainly quick response times in those areas. Another 5 outages related to insulator failure and a ground aerial. In 2 instances, no problem was found. Thus, there have been some problems out that way. However, on the positive side, in the last 12 months, a number of improvements have been effected in the reticulation of rural electricity and I will indicate these:
. 22 kV tie line between Hopewell Road and Kentish Road.
. 22 kV tie line between 19-Mile and the Stuart Highway north.
. 22 kV remote controllable recloser at Middle Point.
. 22 kV section sectionaliser at Southport.
. 22 kV sectionaliser at the Old Bynoe Road.
. 22 kV sectionaliser at Meade Road.
. McMinns/Humpty Doo, a 66 kV bypass insulator (maintenance).
. City zone/Cox Peninsula 66 kV bypass insulator (maintenance).
In addition, a number of projects are in hand for that area:
. 22 kV remote controllable recloser at Strangways/Zamia Road.
. 22 kV remote controllable recloser at Pioneer Road/Acacia Road.
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. 22 kV sectionaliser at Lakewood.
. 22 kV sectionaliser at Sunter Road.
. 22 kV at Jenkens Road.
. 22 V at McMinns Lagoon.
. 2 kV aerial interconnection between McMinns zone substation and Humpty Doo substation (Strangways Road to
Lambells Lagoon). That interconnection makes a loop which gives much more stability to power. As well, a 22kV aerial
bypass is planned for Humpty Doo pub and school, which is currently on a radial feed, and replacement of a 22kV OCR at
Palmerston by a circuit breaker.
Extensive work is being done. The Power and Water Authority is very active in that rural area with the sole aim of improving the delivery of power. It is important to note also that three 2-man crews are on call 24-hours a day in the Darwin rural area. These crews garage a fully-equipped truck at their homes on a rotational basis. It has been proven that they are able to provide a very fast response time. In fact, it is faster than garaging a vehicle at the depot at the 19-Mile. By the on-duty crew having a vehicle at home, that service has been improved. Continual work is being done on trying to improve the technical equipment levels to continue to provide the best in service delivery for the rural area.
In relation to Mr Reid and his advertisement, the department has been attempting to contact him to see if he would like a full briefing. I would be very happy to take him on a tour to show him what is occurring and make him au fait with the plans that are in train to further improve the supply of power in the rural area.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016