While the project is expected to create traffic disruption along the cable’s route from Halfway Bush to Smith St in the centre city, a whistleblower says it will be worth the hassle. Richard Healey, a former Aurora Energy employee who first raised concerns about deteriorated power poles belonging to the lines company, said the replacement cables would improve the security of electricity supply to businesses in central Dunedin. The new 33kV sub-transmission cables will run from Halfway Bush Substation, down Taieri Rd, up and over Stuart St and back down to the Smith St substation, replacing a 59-year-old gas-insulated cable.
"Thank God they’re doing it," Mr Healey said.
"The old cable was basically on a knife-edge.
"There’ll be a lot of disruption, but it’s better than what would happen otherwise."
Construction will begin on Monday on the nearly 3.2km of cables.
They will carry 33kV of electricity from Halfway Bush Substation to Smith St substation, where the power is converted to 6.6kV for distribution to 2700 homes and businesses, from the Octagon to Highgate.
Aurora said in a statement trenching work would next week, starting at the Halfway Bush end, near the Wakari dog park.
Once underground ducting was in place, the cables would be pulled through the ducting in sections before being joined together and energised.
Work was expected to be completed by June next year, Aurora said. Civil contractors Fulton Hogan will begin by preparing the trenches and installing ducting and Delta would install the electricity cabling. Traffic disruption was expected as the cable work moved from Halfway Bush towards the city.
New cable facts
• Construction starts October 1, 2018 near Wakari Dog Park.
• Planned for completion by June 2019 at Smith St Substation
• Project value: $5.6million
• Will run nearly 3.2km from Halfway Bush Substation, down Taieri Rd, up and over Stuart St to Smith St substation
• The 33kV sub-transmission cables replace gas-insulated cables installed in 1959.
