What is happening?
The Ballarat East substation will be located at 203 York Street on land owned by Powercor. This land has been zoned for use “for the construction of services and utilities” for more than 50 years.
Powercor has zone substations in the heart of residential communities in regions like Geelong, Warrnambool, Werribee, Sunshine, Melton, Laverton, Waurn Ponds and Torquay.
The Ballarat East substation will include an architecturally-designed exterior that will be co-designed with the local community. It will also feature technology that reduces the risk of powerline-related bushfires by instantly cutting power if a line is contacted.
Powercor is investing over $30 million to build the new zone substation. As part of the project, Powercor has developed a $2 million Community Benefits Package to provide benefits for individuals and the broader community. As part of this package, Powercor will establish a $200,000 Community Legacy Fund to support investments in parks, recreation or security within the community.
Why is this project important?
The Ballarat East Zone Substation will support Ballarat’s growing population, which is driving an increase in electricity demand on existing infrastructure.
It will support the growth in solar installations, electric vehicles and other electric equipment, and the network in the event of power outages and extreme weather.
The substation will also feature technology designed to protect the broader community by reducing the risk of powerline-related bushfires.
What’s next
Construction of the Ballarat East Zone Substation is nearing completion and the new Ballarat East Zone Substation is now switched on and operational. While the substation is in service, some final project works are still to be completed.
Architecturally designed fence
The final stage of the project is the installation of the architecturally-designed fence around the substation. The fence is currently progressing through the final stages of detailed design. Construction is expected to begin around October 2026, subject to final approvals.
Community Legacy Fund
Once the fence has been completed, the Community Legacy Fund work will begin. The Community Legacy Fund will deliver a new and enhanced walking connection between York Street and Callow Street, along Pennyweight Gully. We will be building a new concrete pathway along the eastern side of the Pennyweight Gully, providing a dedicated walking route with additional native planting to create a greener, more welcoming walking environment.
We will keep local residents updated on our construction activities through monthly updates or on our website. If you have any questions, please email us at: majorprojects@powercor.com.au or call us at: 13 22 06.
You can learn more about what to expect during construction here.
Bus stop relocation
From first service Monday, 2 June 2025 ongoing. The Pennyweight Park/York Street Bus stop on Bus Route 20 (to Canadian) will be located 20 metres before the original bus stop.
Fence design unveiled
After months of speaking with the community about what they would like the outside of the substation to look like, our architects have created a design that reflects that feedback and celebrates Ballarat’s rich history.
The fence will be painted in Pale Eucalypt (green) and Evening Haze (neutral), with some areas available for painted murals. It will feature modern perforated panels showcasing distinct patterns and pictures celebrating the local area. It will incorporate images of the gold rush era, the Eureka Stockade flag, some of Ballarat’s heritage buildings, Lake Wendouree and other local icons.
The fence will vary in height, from 3.1 to 3.5 metres, and will include soft low-level feature lighting to create a subtle effect at night. A range of native shrubs will be planted around the fence.
Image shown is an artist impression to visualise the concept. Final appearance may vary.
Image shown is an artist impression to visualise the concept. Final appearance may vary.
Community benefit fund unveiled
We’re pleased to share the outcome of our Community Legacy Fund. The majority of community members who voted chose a new and enhanced walking connection between York Street and Callow Street, along Pennyweight Gully.
We’ll be constructing a new concrete pathway along the eastern side of Pennyweight Gully, providing a dedicated walking route away from the substation, featuring new native planting.
The existing walking track will be permanently closed and replaced with additional native planting to create a greener, more welcoming walking environment.
We have been working closely with the City of Ballarat to develop a plan to deliver these improvements. Work to build this new track is expected to start mid-late 2026, following the completion of the feature fence.
Webinar – EMF and water management
Thank you to everyone who attended our webinar on Wednesday 31 July. The recording is now available and can viewed at engage.powercor.com.au/ballarateastzss.
If you have any further questions or require assistance viewing the webinar recording please email majorprojects@powercor.com.au
Response to City of Ballarat
On 22 May 2024, the City of Ballarat Council moved a motion seeking an on-site visit between Powercor representative, councillors, council officers and residents in relation to the Ballarat East Zone Sub-Station project. Our response can be viewed here.
Property condition survey
As part of the construction of the new Ballarat East Zone Substation, Powercor is offering a complimentary property condition survey and report for properties within 50 metres of the construction site. This independent assessment records the current condition of eligible properties and serves as a reference in case any concerns arise during or after construction. We’ve notified eligible residents about how to access.
Community solar fund
We are offering payments up to $10,000 to fund the installation of 5kW solar systems or a battery for people whose homes (main dwelling) are materially within a 100-metre radius of the York Street site.
We’ve notified eligible residents about how to access our Community Solar Fund. We’ve released the payment process and provided an approved list of electrical contractors.
If you eligible for the payment but haven’t yet contacted us or received information, there is still time. For questions or for more information, email us at majorprojects@powercor.com.au or call 13 22 06.
