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Vector says it is on track to finish and commission a new electricity substation on Sandspit Road, near Snells Beach, later this year.
Substantial construction work has been carried out over recent months on the site near the junction with Sharp Road and Mahurangi East Road, leading to some local speculation over what exactly was being built there.
A Vector spokesperson offered reassurance last week that it was just part of its long-term plan to reinforce the power network in the Warkworth area, to support population growth and boost reliability for locals.
“As part of this, we’re building a fifth zone substation on Sandspit Road, to complement the four that already supply power to the wider area [at Warkworth, Wellsford, Snells Beach and Big Omaha].
“The new Sandspit zone substation will house a transformer, as well as new switchgear. To support future growth, we’ve also made provisions for the addition of a second transformer when it’s needed.”
However, getting the new substation up and running could involve some traffic hold-ups on surrounding roads when it comes to prepping for the big switch-on.
“One of the more significant aspects of the project is the integration of the new substation into the existing network, which requires extensive civil work on nearby roads,” the spokesperson said.
This will entail connecting the supply from the Warkworth zone substation, opposite the golf club, to the new Sandspit substation, and then connecting that into the existing Warkworth and Snells Beach distribution networks.
“These new connections will not only help balance demand, but also mean we have more options to restore power from a different direction if a localised fault occurs.”
Vector added that the design for the new substation had gone beyond the merely functional.
“We’ve taken steps to mitigate run-off during heavy rain, and we’ve worked with the Warkworth community to design the new substation to blend in with the local environment,” they said.
“We’ve incorporated rural fencing and a variety of planting to improve amenity, including a magnolia tree to add interest when it flowers.
“We’re excited about how the substation will benefit the resilience of the power supply for the local community.”
