Plans on track to start building Ballarat’s newest zone substation this year

Construction of the Ballarat East Zone Substation will begin later this year, with planning and design of the critical infrastructure well advanced.

The first stage of construction at the York Street site will include installing a safety fence and excavation work, with infrastructure to be installed next year.

Once completed, the zone substation will provide reliability and safety benefits to more than 82,000 homes and businesses across the broader region.

Last night, Powercor representatives met with City of Ballarat councillors and officers to update them on the project’s progress and next steps. Powercor also outlined how it was addressing community concerns about noise, water, electromagnetic fields (EMF) and safety risks.

Powercor’s Head of Network Planning, Andrew Dinning, said the project was on track to be completed by the 2025-26 summer.

“We are getting on with the job of delivering the zone substation that is essential to providing reliable and safe power to thousands of people across Ballarat and beyond,” Mr Dinning said.

“We were pleased to provide the council with the facts about this important project and the risks to power reliability and safety if there are delays.”

During the briefing, Powercor also updated the council on the rollout of the $2 million Community Benefit Package, which includes payments of up to $10,000 for solar panels for households within a 100-metre radius of the site, as well as direct payments for residents adjoining or adjacent to the project.

To date, 44 residents have signed up for the solar fund, and Powercor has paid the first instalment of the direct neighbour payments to 17 of the 18 eligible residents.

“We’ve had positive feedback about our voluntary package and a strong take-up of the solar fund,” Mr Dinning said. “We want to make sure everyone eligible for solar has a chance to apply to the fund, so we have extended the application date until March next year.”

Powercor is now shortlisting more than 30 ideas submitted for the $200,000 legacy fund and will soon be asking the community to vote on their preferred options.

“We’ve received a diverse range of ideas, such as a community garden, public art and upgrades to sporting facilities, which will provide long-lasting and positive benefits to the local community,” Mr Dinning said.

In September, Powercor will also release shortlisted design options for the zone substation’s exterior fencing and landscaping for residents to have a say on. Two further community information sessions about the project will be held in the coming months.

Powercor is notifying neighbouring residents about the construction timeframe directly and will continue keeping them updated on progress.

For more details about the project, visit www.powercor.com.au/BallaratEastZSS