Media Release: Eaglehawk and California Gully powerline upgrades

Electricity distributor Powercor has started work on a $1.5 million powerline upgrades in Eaglehawk and California Gully so it can continue delivering safe and reliable power to customers in the region.

Crews will replace six kilometres of overhead copper high voltage lines with lightweight aluminium powerlines and will replace 30 power poles, used to support these overhead lines.

Works will be conducted along Sailors Gully Road, Kirkwood Road and Caldwells Road from 28 August to mid-September and additional works along Sandhurst Road, Holmes Road, Watson Avenue, Murdoch Street, Turner Street, Campbell Street and Crowther Street will be completed in November.

To allow crews to safely complete the work, some local residents and commercial customers will be impacted by a series of planned power outages and changed traffic conditions.

Powercor has contacted all 330 customers affected by the works, with power to be switched off on Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 August. Additional outages will take place throughout September, October and November with all affected customers contacted directly before any planned outages.

The work is part of Powercor’s annual maintenance and safety program which has contributed to the business becoming Australia’s most reliable rural network. Electricity supplies are available through the Powercor network for 99.97% of the year. This means that, on average, customers are never without power for more than 2.5 hours annually – that’s less time than an AFL game.

Bendigo field leader Craig McCarron said the power outages allow crews to complete work safely and quickly, keeping disruption to customers to a minimum.

“We never want to take our customers off electricity supply, but by doing this work now we can minimise the risk of extended, unplanned outages in the future,’ Mr McCarron said.

“While we understand any outage is inconvenient for customers, we will have crews on site working hard to complete this work in the safest and quickest way possible.”

In order to work safely, lane closures will take place along Sailors Gully Road on 28 and 29 August. These lane changes and access from Sailors Gully Road to Kirkwood Road on 10 and 12 September will also affect traffic flow in the area.

Works will also impact traffic along Holmes Road on 8 and 15 September and Sandhurst Road on 25 September and 3 October. Residents are reminded to take care during these times and plan for longer travel times.

Any customers with questions or who are unsure if they will be affected by the planned outages should contact Powercor on 13 22 06.