ARA Electrical went above and beyond to deliver new power poles and power lines from Mount Pleasant to Mount Keira – one of Illawarra’s most iconic and beloved viewpoints.
As part of reinstating a permanent power supply to Mount Keira Summit Park, ARA Electrical (trading as Transelect) was commissioned for the design and construction of a new mains power supply.
new power line
The new power line will supply local restaurants at the Mount Keira Summit Park, as well as the communications tower for Wollongong’s local emergency services and telecommunication networks.
ARA Electrical was initially contracted to come up with a design solution for supplying power to the site that would meet the requirements of key stakeholders, including Wollongong City Council, Endeavor Energy, and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Following a great deal of consultation and planning, ARA Electrical’s final design and methodology was accepted. Following an open tender ARA Electrical was awarded the tender for construction of the project. Installation commenced from October 2018 and is due for completion in mid-2019.
Aeropower and ARA Electrical partnership
All major safety hazards and protocols were addressed in preceding toolbox safety talks
By partnering with experts in the delivery of airborne electrical services, Aeropower and ARA Electrical were able to install new power poles and string 1 km of overhead lines above the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area tree canopy.
Heavy winds and rain made for challenging conditions during the aerial haulage process, as well as the risk posed by the helicopter operating close to underlying vegetation. As always, the safety of Aeropower and ARA staff was a priority, and all major safety hazards and protocols were addressed in preceding toolbox safety talks.
Installation of underground high-voltage cabling
The ARA team also carried out 400 m of open-cut trenching in the Queen Elizabeth Drive road corridor for the installation of underground high-voltage cabling, as well as a new padmount substation.
For Rhys Ayuso, Regional Construction Manager for ARA Electrical, the project represented 'a great opportunity to build something, especially due to how hard it was to plan and undertake'. Rhys says that he and the team are confident in approaching similar opportunities and providing peace of mind for contracts that need to meet various requirements from councils and national parks.
