Sunshine Coast Police set up exclusion zone at Buderim following footpath explosion
The Electrical Trades Union has demanded action after the second SEQ electrical explosion during a heatwave this week shut down a main street on the Sunshine Coast early this morning. DETAILS.
Sunshine Coast
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The Electrical Trades Union has demanded action after the second SEQ electrical explosion during a heatwave this week shut down a main street on the Sunshine Coast early this morning.
Police shut down a street in Buderim after an early morning footpath explosion.
A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said police were responding to an ‘explosion’.
“Emergency services are responding to a reported pressured blast in the footpath on Wises Road, Buderim this morning, December 11,” she said.
“Emergency services were called about 6.45am.
“There is currently an exclusion zone in place and Wises Rd is closed between the roundabout that intersects with Sugar Rd and the roundabout that continues onto Wises Rd.”
This latest blast on the Sunshine Coast comes after a person was injured in a similar blast on Sunday in Surfers Paradise.
“A small explosion has occurred. Enough to lift a manhole up a foot or so. It would be something similar to that incident on the Gold Coast couple of days ago,” Senior Sergeant Doolan said.
“Don’t know what the connection is but it’s something similar and that’s how we’re treating it.”
Following the minor underground explosion at Buderim this morning the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) has demanded the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) travel to Queensland to meet with industry representatives.
On Monday, the union demanded the AER increase its budget for maintenance of electricity infrastructure in Queensland following an explosion on the Gold Coast that injured a pedestrian.
Following a second explosion, this time in Buderim, union leadership said the AER must send representatives to Queensland before finalising its maintenance budget.
“The people who determine the budget for maintenance need to see what we’re dealing with in Queensland and the approved budget must reflect what Queenslanders need to have a reliable and safe electricity network,” ETU State Secretary Peter Ong said.
ETU Assistant State Secretary and Electricity Supply Industry coordinator Stuart Traill said the maintenance budget must reflect maintenance required.
“Fortunately this second explosion happened in a less populated area than the first one, so nobody was injured, however it did occur just outside a substation, which means a higher fault current,” says Mr Traill.
“These hot, humid days create the perfect storm for cables to blow up if they’re not properly maintained. The extra load from people turning on their air conditioners on these extremely hot days, and the moisture in the air from the humidity and the rain creates extreme pressure.
“During the heatwave this week, suppliers were forced to start load shedding, and we’re only at the start of summer. The AER’s budget just doesn’t reflect the reality of the work that needs to be completed in this state. Yet the regulator is planning to cut the budget further, when we’re already behind in vital maintenance.
“These things will just get worse unless sufficient resources are allocated to vital works. Two explosions in South East Queensland in the space of four days is completely unacceptable, and if action isn’t taken, I can guarantee we will see even more.”
An AER spokesman said the Queensland budget was expected to increase by more than $400m for the next five years, and said budgets were always set with the consumer in mind.
“Electricity networks submit revenue proposals to the AER every five years,” he said.
“We assess these proposals, with extensive consultations, to ensure consumers pay no more than necessary for safe, reliable and secure electricity services.
“The AER accepted in full the operating expenditure forecast provided by Energex for the current 2020-25 period. This forecast was $1.805bn.
“The AER’s draft decision on Energex’s revenue proposal for the 2025-30 period also accepted in full the operating expenditure forecast provided by Energex.
“This forecast was $2.285bn.
“While the AER approves an allowance for forecast operational expenditure, Energex is responsible for deciding how and where operating and maintenance work will be undertaken.”
On scene, Senior Sergeant Brad Doolan said police had been there for a couple of hours this morning after reports of a “minor explosion”.
“A driver has driven past and seen what he thought was a small explosion coming out of one of the manholes here in front of the ISUZU dealership,” he said.
“Bit of green gas emanating.
“Fireys responded, located the threat, and we’ve isolated the area.”
He said the smoke was coming from an electrical vent and that there was no fire.
The QFD spokesman said businesses had been evacuated.
Senior Sergeant Doolan said the Queensland Fire Department was leading, with support from police, while they waited for Energex.
“We’ve got a bit of lockdown occurring … my guess is in the next two to three hours we’ll see it resolved,” he said.
“Energex needs to get full isolation of the area and then the fireys will move in to help vent the area, identify what the problem is and then Energex will move back in to fix the problem.”
A Queensland Fire Department spokesman said they had two crews on scene investigating “smoke”.
Energex and the Australian Energy Regulator have been contacted for comment.
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