Cousins Kane and Nathan O’Meley, aged 19, work for Arogen, which was contracted for Country Energy’s project to connect Three Chain Road to Country Energy’s South Lismore zone substation with high-voltage underground cables.
Directional drilling was required in two locations – in the area outside the South Lismore Sewage Treatment Plant in the western area of Tree Chain Road, and underneath the Bruxner Highway.
The site of the possible world record, the South Lismore Sewage Treatment Plant, used two bores in basalt 1.5 m separation with a minimum casing size of 600 mm internal, and a bore length of approximately 220 m. The bore contains 7 x 180 mm plus 2 x 110 mm orange conduits and 2 x 100 mm white conduits.
The work was completed with a Vermeer D100X120 Series II Drill.
Two additional bores were used under the Bruxner Highway with 1.5 m separation, a minimum casing size of 600 mm internal steel casing, and a bore length of approximately 100 m. The bore contains the same conduit configuration as described above.
Country Energy is planning a seven year, $A70 million upgrade of its electricity network in the Ballina Shire, Byron Shire and Lismore City local government areas to secure power supply for the future.
Once complete, the Lismore to Mullumbimby network upgrade will enable Country Energy to restore power supply more quickly and provide back-up power supply during unplanned interruptions.
The Lismore to Mullumbimby upgrade is part of Country Energy’s almost $A4 billion network investment program over the next five years.