News

Aug 02, 2023

Perth’s southern suburbs gear up in relay for underground power shake

With council budgets set and rates bills on the way, residents of some southern suburbs can now look to the rollout of underground power as the next major shake-up in their streets. Since the

With council budgets set and rates bills on the way, residents of some southern suburbs can now look to the rollout of underground power as the next major shake-up in their streets.

Since the implementation of underground power began in Perth in 1996, more than 100,000 properties have been connected under State Government initiatives that see the high price partly subsidised for local governments.

Nine local governments have committed to the most recent round of Western Power’s Targeted Underground Power Program, which will bring a “safer” and “more reliable” solution to a further 50,000 properties.

About 65 per cent of the Perth metropolitan area now has underground power, with the remainder at varying stages of implementation.

Underground power projects wrapped up in Hilton and Hamilton Hill in recent weeks, under Western Power’s Network Renewal Undergrounding Program Pilot (NRUPP).

While the beachfront South Fremantle has so far missed out, a memorandum was recently signed between Western Power and the City of Fremantle to progress its rollout.

Further information is expected for South Fremantle residents by the end of the year.

Melville’s northern streets, east Alfred Cove and Kardinya’s south were all part of previous underground power projects that are now completed.

Residents in the Willagee, Melville, and Myaree area are also having their households considered for underground power. Western Power is understood to have timed their approach to Melville council because local poles and wires were all “nearing the end of its design life.”

An additional project under consideration proposes the south Bicton and Palmyra area for a Targeted Underground Power Project. Affected residents would first be surveyed, with the change only proceeding if more than 50 per cent show support.

The last power poles of Shelley east came down this month, as an $8.15 million underground power project was completed.

Bentley remains a chance in the near future, with Western Power undertaking preliminary cost investigations before the Canning council gives the idea further consideration. That would certainly involve consultation with Bentley residents.

Another active project will also deliver underground power to the suburb of St James, in a joint program between Western Power, the City of Canning and the Town of Victoria Park.

South Lake east residents can expect underground power project works commence in coming months, with new LED streetlights part of the works.

The South Lake east project is estimated to take about a year to complete and comes following consultation with South Lake east ratepayers in 2015.

The Town’s underground power project was completed as a part of a State Underground Power Program.