Energex powers up with $9.5m depot

ENERGY BOOST: (Right) Stephen Robertson and Karen Struthers joined Energex CEO Terry Effeney to officially open Energex's new logistics facility.

FLASH floods, raging storms, damaging hail - south-east Queensland has experienced it all in the past 12 months.

And when Mother Nature strikes, power outages are usually the order of the day.

Fortunately, Energex is doing their bit to improve their operations in Logan having moved into their new $9.5 million logistics facility at Larapinta.

Energex was in major need for a new depot, having outgrown their prior premises at Beenleigh and being boxed in by new residential dwellings.

Energex CEO Terry Effeney said getting the job done more efficiently and effectively was the key to the move to the new Southern Distribution Centre, which is located adjacent to the Logan Motorway.

"Because it's such a world class facility and all weather access, it's a really good thing to be able to respond quickly to issues we'll have," he said.

"At Beenleigh the access onto the major arterial roads wasn't that simple so it wasn't a site we felt we couldn't continue to develop.

"This site has fantastic access to Logan Motorway and is a central location that services all our southern needs for Energex.

"So if we have any major storms or damage onto the network, getting the equipment out of here is much easier then what we had at our other facilities."

The new 43,000sqm depot stores $40 million in equipment, mostly electricity wires and poles, and houses about 30 staff members, who can work around the clock during electrical emergencies.

Officially opened last Wednesday by state Energy Minister Stephen Robertson and State Member for Algester Karen Struthers, Mr Effeney believed the facility's assets would benefit Logan customers most.

"The benefits for Logan is firstly we've got 30 people who are working right here in the Logan area," he said.

"And obviously we can provide immediate services to the people of Logan from this facility right here."