Underground Power Project

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The City of Nedlands commenced the installation of underground power in 1997 and since then 78% of the City’s residences have been converted to underground power through the delivery of five staged projects. In September 2024 work commenced to connect underground power in Nedlands North, with Nedlands West and Hollywood East to be connected in stages over the next 3.5 years.

Nedlands North will be completed by February/March 2024. Nedlands West is scheduled to commence in March 2025. Western Power will call for tenders for the remaining area of Hollywood East once Nedlands North commences to ensure current prices are obtained. A decision on proceeding with Hollywood will be considered by Council once Western Power completes their tender process.

The project is being undertaken in coordination with Western Power and is categorised as a Retrospective Undergrounding Project (RUP). RUP is a program that allows Local Government Authorities who would like to have underground power installed in an area that is not on Western Power’s network driven priority list to apply for undergrounding. RUP projects are primarily funded directly by the Local Government and property owners, with a contribution from Western Power.

Project background and community engagement to date

Underground power is specified in the City of Nedlands Council Plan 2023-33 with Council having passed a resolution for all Underground Power to be completed by June 2026.

In March 2023, a business case and cost benefit analysis was presented to Council. Council asked for the community to be consulted about the project, and a survey to determine the level of community support was conducted by Data Analytics Australia. The survey received 903 responses and showed a high level of support (75%) for underground power both from the three areas earmarked in this project, and an 80% level of support from the wider Nedlands community. When advised that the cost of installing the underground power would be shared between Council and ratepayers, the majority (70%) still supported provision of underground power rather than retaining existing overhead power.

At its July 2023 meeting Council reviewed the survey results and authorised the CEO to enter into an agreement with Western Power to progress the underground power project to procurement stage for all three locations, requesting a further report once costings had been received from Western Power. Those updated costings were presented to Council at its February 2024 meeting. As the costs were significantly higher than the business case estimates, the Council requested further community engagement before agreeing whether or not to proceed.

A second community survey was undertaken with residents in April 2024, specifically in Nedlands North and Nedlands West, with 474 responses. The survey results showed robust support for the project generally, with two-thirds of respondents supporting the initiative. Overall, and despite the need to contribute financially to the power being undergrounded, there remained strong support for the undergrounding to proceed, with 57% preferring this option. Those in support of underground power believe the project is well overdue and should proceed with no further delays. However, there is also strong sentiment from other ratepayers who are opposed to the proposal due to the need to pay additional fees during the current cost-of-living crisis.

The City acknowledges that information needs to be provided about the level of contributions, how the contributions are to be determined and the period of time over which the contributions would be made. This information will be clarified over the next few months and resident contributions will not become due before the 2025/26 financial year.

Relevant Council Decisions

• Ordinary Council Meeting - Tuesday 27 February 2024
  • Item 21.1 CPS08.02.24 Underground Power Projects – Updated Costings for Nedlands North (Floreat) and Nedlands West (Mt Claremont)
• Ordinary Council Meeting - Tuesday 28 May 2024
  • Item 19.5 CPS27.05.24 Underground Power – Consideration of Results from Consultation and Next Steps

STAGES OF THE UNDERGROUND POWER PROJECT

• Stage 1 - Nedlands North (Floreat) - IN PROGRESS
  • Click here to view the map of Nedlands North
  • Nedlands North (Floreat) will be completed in three zones, with an expected completion date of early 2025.
  • Service charges for landowners in Floreat will be issued after the project in Floreat is completed and will be issued with the 2025/26 annual rates notices.
• Stage 2 - Nedlands West (Mt Claremont) PLANNED
  • Click here to view the map of Nedlands West
  • Nedlands West (Mt Claremont) has an expected commencement date of March 2025 with an expected completion date by 2026.
  • Service charges for landowners in Mt Claremont to be issued after the Mt Claremont project is completed and will be issued with the 2026/27 annual rates notices.
• Stage 3 - Hollywood East (Nedlands)
  • Click here to view the map of Hollywood East
  • Western Power will call for tenders for the remaining area of Hollywood once Nedlands West (Mt Claremont) commences to ensure current prices are obtained. A decision on proceeding with Hollywood East would be considered by Council once Western Power completes their tender process.

UNDERGROUND POWER INFRASTRUCTURE

The diagram below illustrates the new infrastructure that is required to connect your home to underground power.