What’s Happening?
Ergon Energy has begun upgrading the North Toowoomba Substation to provide a dedicated electricity supply for the new Toowoomba Hospital.
Civil works are underway at the existing facility, while crews are progressing with earthworks and underground boring along the hospital’s powerline route. The project will also expand the local electricity network to accommodate future residential and commercial development.
Why It Matters
The upgrade will support the new hospital’s electricity needs while strengthening infrastructure that serves the wider Toowoomba community.
Rather than focusing solely on the hospital, Ergon Energy is expanding the existing network to meet growing electricity demand. This will allow the infrastructure to support both the new healthcare facility and future development across the region.
Local Impact
Construction involves working around existing roads, underground services and other infrastructure, requiring coordination to manage the works.
Several roads along the route provide access to shopping centres and residential suburbs, while a railway corridor and waterway add further complexity.
Ergon Energy has therefore been working with Toowoomba Regional Council, government agencies, local businesses and residents to coordinate construction activities.
By The Numbers
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More than $50 million is being invested in the project, which includes two modular substation switch room buildings and two 32MVA transformers.
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3.6 kilometres of underground powerline will connect the North Toowoomba Substation directly to the new Toowoomba Hospital.
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About 7,300 customers currently receive electricity from the substation. The upgrade will more than double its capacity, allowing for future growth equivalent to another 15,000 homes.
Zoom In
Energy Queensland Chief Operating Officer Jeff Green said the project’s complexity required close cooperation with several agencies, particularly when planning around existing infrastructure.
“We’ve been working with the Toowoomba Regional Council on everything from vegetation clearing to understanding where their underground services are located along the route we’re taking to the hospital,” Mr Green said.
Beyond council services, the construction route also crosses areas managed by other authorities, making communication with affected communities an important part of the project.
“There’s a rail corridor, a waterway and roads that give access to a number of shopping centres and residential suburbs that we’ve had to plan around as well, so it’s been really important to ensure really clear communication and engagement with Queensland Rail, Transport and Main Roads and local businesses and residents as well.”
Zoom Out
The project forms part of longer-term electricity infrastructure planning for Toowoomba, where the new hospital will become another major customer of the local network.
By upgrading the existing substation alongside the hospital connection, Ergon Energy is preparing the network for additional electricity demand as the region continues to develop.
What To Look For Next?
A temporary electricity supply arrangement will support construction of the new Toowoomba Hospital from 2027, ahead of the permanent connection.
Meanwhile, work on the underground powerline and substation upgrade will continue, with the overall project scheduled for completion in 2028.
Project Manager Gary McMillan has also provided a video update on the construction works.