Gnowangerup information

Work on the Gnowangerup feeder line is set to benefit both the Shire of Gnowangerup and Shire of Lake Grace.

The Shire of Gnowangerup is located approximately 370km south-east of the Perth CBD and 120km north of Albany in the Great Southern region. It covers an area of around 4,265km² and has a population of around 1,260 residents.

The Shire of Lake Grace is located in the eastern Wheatbelt region, about 350km east/south-east of the Perth CBD. The Shire's footprint is approximately 11,000km² and is home to around 1,360 people.

The Gnowangerup feeder line (KAT 509) supplies power to approximately 1,425 connections.

Why were Gnowangerup and Lake Grace chosen as target areas?

The feeder lines being upgraded as part of the Regional Connect program were chosen based on a detailed multi-criteria assessment. This analysis incorporated numerous factors, including:

• Customers experiencing a high number of long unplanned outages
• Challenging environmental conditions
• Diverse community needs
• Opportunities to improve the feeder.

Scope of works

The works to feeder KAT 509, as shown on the map below, are aimed at improving reliability and reducing the length of outages. The scope of works includes:

• Enhanced asset upgrades and replacement works, including upgrades to protection devices, automation and voltage regulators, which will have reliability benefits for the community
• Battery at Lake King
• Possible back-up power solution at Newdegate.

While the network upgrades may seem minor in isolation, they are intended to act as a package that improves the overall feeder reliability and safety.

Map legend

Network upgrades

New infrastructure

Distribution power lines