goodbye Rocky!

[Okibi]

Hi Guys, into the 5th day without power...

Glad you're ok, that's the main thing.

[Mr Morlock]

wow it just got worse- we complain in Melb if there is any loss of power which is highly inconvenient because we might have to reset some clocks. What an amazing difference there is between climate conditions and how it impacts people. Thanks again to Rocky for giving us all an overview of what the reality of these things are - hope it gets resolved soon- already too long.

[Vat]

Very glad to see you're OK. When will we have underground power in the cyclone zones?
Take care Rocky and don't pick up any bugs from the dodgy water around the place.

Dollars don't work. It's really expensive to install (and harder/more expensive to expand to cope with growth), harder to fault find and harder/more expensive to repair (especially if it's under a main road). Underground cable joints, especially in hot areas and when heavily loaded, are vulnerable to water damage. Actually, jointing is an ongoing headache for electrical distributors.

I can't find the studies but there is some thought that they're more vulnerable to lightning ground strikes as well.

Overhead lines, whilst initially more vulnerable to damage, are much easier and cheaper to repair.

I think underground is a great solution for residential areas but for bulk distribution, especially when you've got lower customer numbers like the Ergon areas, it's not financially viable, even taking into account repairs and outages.

[bruce]

Yes, the power goes out and the water pumping stations stop, so no running water. No flushing!

[JBT]

I think underground is a great solution for residential areas...

That's what I'm talking about. How much of the damage was not bulk distribution but local/residential?

[Vat]

I think underground is a great solution for residential areas...

That's what I'm talking about. How much of the damage was not bulk distribution but local/residential?

That's something that's been pushed (in terms of cost) on to developers for newer estates (not sure of the dates they started pushing that). There's been no push to 'retrofit' those. That's a similar cost benefit scenario, alas.

[MattR]

As vat stated, generally new urban estates will get underground power and Telco service with the traditional water/wastewater, gas and drainage services.

To retro fit is not economically viable by public or private ownership and the users would howl even more so than now about power bills as someone has to pay.

To retro fit underground is also not practical as underground records are sketchy at best, even in areas with good records. I still have nightmares about the underground services throughout the Gold Coast when I was involved in the detail design Public Utility Plant (PUP) surveys to identify all underground services along the route of the Gold Coast rapid transit project, even with the DBYD plans, services designated and vacuum trucks to map the underground services we still had a few come and bite us badly.

When I was involved in the rollout of the Optus broadband HFC network back in the mid 90's as the lead Queensland designer the cost to go underground using existing conduits was approximately 4 times the cost to string the network up on the existing power poles. before I left Optus, there was only one area of underground plant and that was at Springfield as part of a sweetheart deal with Clem Jones who flogged the first two stages as being broadband ready and with internet speeds much faster than ADSL.

[JBT]

Well maybe it should be part of a "Nation Building" or major "Infrastructure Renewal/Building" program. No power for a week because trees etc. knocked down power lines in a first world country is pretty poor.
Businesses close down, jobs are lost, livelihoods and lives are lost. The human cost is high and there is a loss to national income.
There has to be a way to improve the situation - think of the vast job opportunities for such a project.

[MattR]

Unfortunately we missed the boat for infrastructure building at this scale around 30 years ago when the technology wasn't really there compared to what we have now.

[Rocky]

The 'wet' is Cairns stuff, Bruce.
The sun came out here the next day and we got 4 days of 35 degree heat, including at night, which wasn't nice with no power (no fans, A/C)
Power came on yesterday - so 7 days without power. I was getting pretty tired of chasing ice by then.
As soon as things settle down I will buy a generator, not ever doing this again, particularly in my old age. I really felt for the old folks in their own homes who had to cope with it all without any family support.
This was the first real Cyclone to hit Rocky/Yeppoon in about 60 years so the generator will probably end up being a "family heirloom"!!
I've never been to Melbourne so one day I'll look you up - like I did in Cairns.

[Rocky]

Re the Underground Vs power poles - the underground stuff has more problems than the poles.
The real problem is local government, Energy companies and landowners who allow tall trees beside power lines.
95% of the damage to the power system was trees falling on the power lines. There were thousands of trees down and 1800 lines damaged.
I had no property damage whatever - NO big trees close (I cut them all down).
My only concern was a d...head at the back with a 60ft paperbark right on the fenceline. Just luck it only dropped a big branch in his yard.
We were just about the last to get power because we are on the outskirts in the foothills.
The new suburbs all have underground power but it doesn't help when the trees take out all the power lines in the inner suburbs.
Anyhow thanks to all for the good wishes - much appreciated.
Now about that generator....

[bruce]

For sure, come visit me one day down in Melbourne. You can look at my nodded NA, a lot faster than an SP.