Coral Bay Happenings

Exmouth Expression
January, 2007 Page: 8

Construction work is about to begin on the Coral Bay Power Project, which will see Horizon Power take over responsibility for power supplies in the community and new underground distribution systems installed. Verve Energy will build a new power station and wind farm to supply power to the community.

The wind monitoring mast used in the assessment phase of the Project will be removed by the end of November. Site preparations including the road to the wind farm and clearance works are set to begin shortly thereafter.

Corporate Affairs Manager, John Kitis, said that Site works are expected to continue through to the new year, and the foundations for the wind farm and new power station should commence in January 2007.

"The wind turbines for the new wind farm are in the final stages of construction in France and are due to arrive via container ship in Fremantle during December. "They will be transported to the site from late January, and are planned to be installed during February and March 2007.

"Construction work on the new power station will take place between February and May. Building works to be completed during this time include installation of perimeter fencing, installation of the containerised diesel generators, installation of the fuel tanks and system, installation of the control room, workshop and power store buildings, as well as installation of the transformers and overhead structure above the generators," Mr Kitis said.

Commissioning of the new power station is expected to be carried out in April, with extensive testing of the new system, which must be completed before the new station is connected to the power distribution network.

"The new station is expected to be operational by June 2007. "The Main Roads Department will manage construction of a new sealed road to the power station between February and March," John Kitis said.

The intersection at Exmouth Road will be upgraded to allow fuel trucks to turn into the Coral Bay Road. The final design of the new power network is nearing completion and Horizon Power has begun negotiating with landowners to finalise connection details. Trenching and cable laying work on the new 22,000volt underground network will begin in March, with installation expected to take six weeks.

Timetable for the project is as follows: Dec 2006 Commence site works for power station and wind farm Jan 2007 Install foundations for wind turbines Feb-Mar 2007 Road works Feb-May 2007 Construct power station Mar-May 2007 Install new underground distribution network June 2007 Commence operating new power system.