Kings Forest FAQ’s
- Accessing and using existing easements
- Installing an underground cable rather than new overhead powerlines.
Who is Essential Energy?
Essential Energy builds, operates and maintains one of Australia’s largest electricity distribution networks, providing a vital service to over 890,000 customers across regional, rural and remote communities.
Our network footprint covers 95 per cent of New South Wales and parts of southern Queensland, traversing 737,000 square kilometres of diverse landscape from the desert to the coast, across alpine to sub-tropical.
Find out more by visiting our website.
What is Essential Energy's role in the Kings Forest High Voltage Supply project?
Essential Energy is responsible for the design, construction and ongoing operation of a new substation and underground feeder to deliver electricity to the Kings Forest development area.
What community consultation has been undertaken?
We welcome ongoing feedback from the community. This site is a great avenue for you to keep in touch, provide input and ask any questions.
In December 2023, we delivered letterbox drops and contacted residents directly impacted by the powerline and zone substation construction.
Our Land and Routes team and stakeholder engagement lead is engaging with you throughout the project. Their details are provided on this page for ease of contact.
How have impacts to the environment and visual amenity been considered?
As we have considered the design elements of the project, we have sought to minimised the impacts to the natural environment and preserve the visual amenity where possible.
Examples of this include:
The underground cable will be built within road reserve or existing easements along the route between Cudgen and Kings Forest Development, this is to minimise visual impact to the community.
Essential Energy has undertaken environmental assessments to ensure the impact to the natural environment is preserved during the construction and operation of the new underground cable.
Has the project considered potential bushfire risks of the new powerline infrastructure?
Yes. We understand hot weather and more extreme conditions - like bushfire - needs to be a priority in our investment decision making. They are also a top priority in risk mitigation measures when we operate and maintain our infrastructure.
Our investment approach considers risk, cost and network performance so that our decisions deliver optimal value for our customers. We considered the potential to place the new feeder underground (between Cudgen to the Kings Forest development) as an option in our scenarios. However, given the cost would be passed on to our overall existing customer base through their electricity bills, this was not the optimal or chosen solution.
Will this project have an impact on my power bill?
The project is in majority funded by the proponent of the Kings Forest Development area with a small co-investment from Essential Energy. The outcome of this new underground feeder creates better resilience in the network minimising unplanned outages to the broader community outside of the Kings Forest Development which led to the co-investment from Essential Energy.
Essential Energy values a network that meets the customers' needs and expectations with minimal unplanned outages.
What is the benefit of the Kings Forest zone substation and underground feeder project?
The Kings Forest zone substation and underground feeder project will provide power supply to the Kings Forest development area. This development involves the creation of 5,500 residential housing lots, a community centre which includes educational facilities, parks and a community centre.
Additionally, the new underground feeder will strengthen our existing electricity network and increase its capacity and resilience to the broader community. The Kings Forest development will allow thousands of new customers to connect to Essential Energy's network, ultimately contributed to reducing the cost of electricity prices for all customers across the Essential Energy footprint.
Who has been awarded the contract to deliver the work?
Construction is estimated to commence in late 2024/early 2025 over multiple stages, and be completed in late 2025/early 2026.
Essential Energy will be tendering for the work. If you would like to find out more about working with Essential Energy visit Tenders and Suppliers (essentialenergy.com.au).
Why is the zone substation and underground feeder required? Why is it necessary?
To provide safe and reliable power to the Kings Forest Development area.
Are stakeholders and the community being informed throughout the project?
We are committed to keeping the community and stakeholders updated throughout the project. Construction activities will be published here.
You can find out more about the project by visiting Kings Forest development | Tweed Shire Council (nsw.gov.au)