A single power line feeds Coomba Park. As climate threats grow, so do fears of going dark

For the lakeside village of Coomba Park, near Forster, connection to the electricity grid relies on a single powerline. With increasing severe weather events, the small community, home to less than 700 people, sits within a high-risk bushfire zone. Locals have experienced their fair share of power outages caused by storms, floods, and bushfires and are at continued risk of prolonged blackouts during challenging times unless something is done

❓What’s happening: State-owned Essential Energy (EE) is currently working to deliver more resilient and reliable electricity for the Coomba Park community. This includes:

• Replacing older timber poles with fire-resistant composite poles for improved durability in extreme weather conditions

• Increasing the vegetation clearance around powerlines is part of the plan

• Providing back up power with a permanent generator

“We’ve listened to the community and understand how challenging power outages can be, especially during storms or bushfire season,” Essential Energy’s Head of Stakeholder Relations, Mitchell Hume said.

• “Our modelling shows this area is at higher bushfire risk, so we’re taking steps now to provide the community with a more resilient power supply with a backup generator when it’s needed.”

⚠️ High risk of fire and outages: Digital network modelling from EE has identified the Coomba Park area as a high-risk zone. 

• The majority of outages in Coomba Park have been caused by encroaching vegetation – like trees and large branches coming into contact with the powerlines during severe weather events. 

🚨The country is already experiencing more frequent and severe extreme weather events due to the changing climate, outlined in the Australia’s National Climate Risk Assessment. These events – like heat waves, floods, and fires – are expected to increase, becoming more event more common and destructive.  

🪵 Replacing older timber poles: While Coomba Park has been identified as a target area for EE, specific timings for the rollout are yet to be finalised.

• Across the network, older timber poles reaching end of life are being replaced with composite poles already.

🌲Clearing vegetation: Due to Coomba Park being identified as a high-risk bushfire zone, some of the vegetation clearance in the area may require a “clear to sky”.

🪚 Explain that: “‘Clear to sky’ means that any vegetation within the designated clearance zone around high voltage powerlines - including trees and large branches directly above or leaning towards the lines - is removed,” an Essential Energy spokesperson told the Mid North Coaster.

• “This creates an open corridor with no overhanging foliage, significantly reducing the risk of outages and fires caused by vegetation contacting the network.”

💡Back up power: Essential Energy is proposing to install a 1,800kW diesel generator to provide backup power to Coomba Park during planned and unplanned outages. 

• “The generator would be permanently installed and connected to our network and backup power supply will be initiated once faults are safely isolated,” said a spokesperson.

Thumbnail: Replacement of older timber pole with composite pole. Picture supplied Essential Energy.