SIX METERS of Coastline Lost at Hawks Nest – Power Pole Saved By Essential Energy

Quick-Thinking Essential Energy Team Prevents Power Pole from Toppling into Ocean after a large section of land was washed in to the ocean.

Hawks Nest, NSW – Essential Energy crews sprang into action to save a power pole from the encroaching ocean in the Hawks Nest area, following a call from a concerned community member on Wednesday, 31 July 2024. The power pole, located at the intersection of The Boulevard and Kururma Crescent, was at risk due to severe coastal erosion and heavy seas.

A crew member from Bulahdelah promptly assessed the situation and discovered a rapid erosion of about six metres of coastline, exacerbated by a 2-3 metre swell on the nearby beach. The immediate threat necessitated urgent action to prevent the power pole from collapsing into the ocean.

From 1pm to 6pm, the team worked to secure the pole with a crane and isolated the power to ensure public safety. This operation temporarily disrupted electricity supply to 97 customers. The next morning, Thursday, 1 August, crews returned to relocate the pole across the road, restoring power to all but nine customers overnight. By Thursday morning, power was fully restored to all affected residents.

Rob Ridley, Essential Energy’s Mid North Coast Operations Manager, praised the swift response, saying, “We’ve had a lot of rain and very big seas recently, so we really appreciate when the community spots a potential issue on our network. In this case, we were able to safely isolate the power supply and move the pole to a more secure location while only impacting a small number of customers.”

Facts:

• Essential Energy builds, operates, and maintains one of Australia’s largest electricity distribution networks, servicing 890,000 customers across regional, rural, and remote communities.
• The network covers 95 per cent of New South Wales and parts of southern Queensland, spanning 737,000 square kilometres, from desert to coast, and alpine to sub-tropical regions.
• Essential Energy’s network includes 1.4 million power poles and plays a crucial role in delivering safe, reliable electricity while supporting the energy transition by enabling the connection of renewable energy sources.

In a similar situation to the power pole incident at Hawks Nest, Stockton Beach has faced significant challenges with coastal erosion. Over recent years, the beach has experienced severe sand loss, exacerbating the risk to nearby infrastructure. Estimates suggest that around 146,000 cubic metres of sand naturally move north from Stockton Beach annually, compounded by human activities like the construction of breakwaters, which disrupt natural sand movement.

The erosion has been so severe that it has led to the loss of public and private land and even the near-loss of buildings. In response, efforts have been made to replenish the sand, with initial projects involving dredging and sand placement. However, these efforts are part of a longer-term plan requiring extensive coordination and funding​​.

This comparison underscores the broader issues of coastal erosion affecting various parts of New South Wales, necessitating prompt and coordinated actions to mitigate the impacts on communities and infrastructure.

The incident highlights the challenges posed by natural erosion and severe weather conditions, emphasizing the importance of community vigilance in maintaining infrastructure safety.