Hanmer Springs
Public meeting
Please join us for an update on generation plans, the new substation project and planned maintenance activities in the Hanmer Springs area. Reserve your spot here.
- Thu, 25 June, 6pm
- Soldier’s Block, Queen Mary Hospital
MainPower is committed to keeping the lights on in Hanmer Springs.
To support the community through power outages that occur for a number of reasons, we are installing generators in Hanmer Springs.
This is a proactive step to help mitigate the impacts of outages and improve security of supply for homes, businesses and visitors.
We’re committed to keeping our community informed.
For updates or to get in touch:
Why this is needed
Hanmer Springs is supplied by a single main line into the township. While this network has served the community well, it means:
- There is limited redundancy if faults occur
- Outages can affect the whole township during faults or maintenance
- Demand continues to grow with tourism and local development
During unexpected events (such as storms, wildlife contacting power lines or equipment faults) or planned maintenance, this creates a higher risk of power interruptions as there’s no ability to provide backup power from the network.
What we’re doing
To strengthen resilience and provide power supply during outages, MainPower is installing electricity generation in Hanmer Springs.
This generation will:
- Provide additional backup supply during peak demand or outages
- Ensure residents and visitors still have access to key services
- Support the network when maintenance is required
- Help reduce the likelihood and duration of power interruptions
When operational, generation will be incremental, with the central business area livened first and the township and surrounding areas provided generated power in stages. Details of exactly what this will look like will be available once the generators are installed and set up.
The imperative, as we’ve heard from the community, is that power is supplied following a fault or outage as soon as practically and safely possible.
We will keep the Hanmer Springs community informed before installation, during operation, and as plans evolve.
What this means for the community
Visible set up
The generators and associated equipment will be located just outside of the Hanmer Springs village. They are industrial infrastructure and will be visible while until screen planting is established.
Noise and activity
There will be some noise when the generators are operating. We are speaking with the nearest neighbours to mitigate any nuisance. It’s important to note that we will only operate the generators when they’re needed and our plans meet all relevant environmental and consent requirements.
Temporary traffic management
During the installation of the generators, we will need to disrupt traffic at times. This will be clearly signposted and we’ll advise of all expected activity ahead of time through our website, Facebook page and printed handouts if required.
Our long-term plan for Hanmer Springs
Generation is only part of the solution.
MainPower is also progressing longer-term investment to improve reliability and support growth in the region, including:
- Upgrading the existing line into Hanmer Springs
- Building a new substation on the site the generators are being installed
- Planning for increased capacity and future demand
These projects will provide increased network resilience and reliability of power supply for the community over time.
Fequently asked questions
No. They will only operate when needed to support the network, such as during planned maintenance or unplanned outages.
Yes. All equipment will be installed and operated in line with strict safety and environmental standards.
The generation will remain in place until longer-term solutions are developed and delivered.
Building significant new infrastructure is not currently economically or practically viable. Generation allows us to improve reliability sooner alongside work to upgrade electricity the line into the village.
There will be some delay when power goes out in a fault situation as our teams need to ensure it is safe to restore.
Initially, until generators are bedded in, power will be restored to the village in stages. The below map indicates which areas will receive power first – priority has been given to the main business district to mitigate disruption to commerce and tourism.
While the majority of the township will get power in stages, it will depend on the loading requirements. During peak times we may be restricted in how far generation will reach and how quickly power will be supplied. We will have more certainty around timeframes for generation and coverage area once the generators are installed and operable.
While the generators are being set up, there will be short, infrequent outages. We will advise of these well in advance through our regular channels.
For updates or to get in touch:
We’re here to help
If you need some assistance or advice, please get in touch with our team.
