Underground Power

Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey.

The survey responses will now be analysed with a report to be prepared and presented to the Council at its meeting scheduled for 26 April 2017, along with the Council receiving (and agreeing) on the final design and cost and the preferred funding model.

The report will also include the next steps of developing the project.

Cape Utilities have been awarded the second phase of the Western Power High Voltage (HV) Network upgrade of new power cables from the Selby Street, Shenton Park sub station to the corner of Senate and Melville Streets Claremont.

This work will be commencing February 2017 and should be completed early April. Cape Utilities are continuing to work closely with the City to successfully complete the project with minimum disruption to land owners, businesses and the general public.

Please see the document library to view the cable route and the letter advising impending works to residents.

If you have a query or concern, please contact Brian Burns, Cape Utilities Project Manager on mobile 0404 842 231 (Ref: 160185-CAPE-LTR-001).

The Energy Minister, The Hon. Mike Nahan has announced today the successful applicants for the State Underground Power Program (SUPP), Round 6. Unfortunately the three (3) proposals by the City of Nedlands were unsuccessful.

However, the proposal by the Town of Cambridge which includes the City's boundary (Alderbury Street) at Floreat was successful.

The media release can be found on the State Government's media statements website.

The City’s liaison with Western Power to explore options for the delivery of underground power to the remaining 2,218 allotments in the city has resulted in Western Power inviting the City of Nedlands to participate in a high voltage project which could provide underground power to properties in the Hollywood area.

To progress the proposal, the City is undertaking a survey of property owners within the project area to gauge their views on the importance of installing underground power in the area and their willingness to pay for it.

The outcomes of the community engagement will form part of a report for Council consideration at its Council Meeting in April, along with a presentation of the proposed design and costs, and funding model options.

This project also has potential benefits for the residents of the Council district as it provides an opportunity to upgrade the street lighting in the area along with placing the high voltage distribution cables underground and establishing a potential model for the rest of the City to follow.

Following extensive work by the City since 2012, the City has been approached by Western Power to be part of a potential underground power project in the Hollywood area.

The first stage of this process is to agree to the development of a detail design and specification for the project in order to progress the Hollywood area underground power proposal to meet the Western Power timetable.

As a result, the Council at its meeting on 20 December 2016 resolved to:

Western Power are commencing two projects on the underground cable installation projects (MR013890 New Feeder 1 & MR013896 New Feeder 7). The projects are funded by Western Power and form part of an overall asset replacement program that will facilitate a major distribution network voltage conversion in the Nedlands area. The requirement is to reinforce the local network with underground cables supplied from surrounding neighbourhoods, and these two projects are the first of those to be made ready for construction.

Western Power have appointed Cape Utilities (Underground Services Australia) to carry out the installation of HV upgrades and will be advising residents (by letter) from Monday, 14 November 2016.

Works will commence in Hollywood at the sub-station on Monash Avenue and terminating in Rockton Road, Dalkeith. Please refer to the document library to view the works area.

The works are projected to be completed by February 2017.

Western Power see these works as a priority for the future of underground power and your support during these works will be appreciated.

For further enquiries, please contact Mr Brian Burns, Project Manager, Cape Utilities, telephone 0404 842 231.

The Council at its meeting on 27 September 2016, resolved for administration to continue seeking options for the provision of underground power to the City.

The City will be meeting with representatives from Western Power during October 2016 to explore options outside of the funding program.

The City at a Special Meeting on 16 August 2016 received a report in relation to a proposal for underground power by the Town of Cambridge which includes properties on the municipal boundary of Alderbury Street, Floreat. This proposal has proceeded to the next stage which is to undertake a community survey. The community survey is the next step in determining whether the installation of underground power proceeds to the next stage.

The Council resolved as follows:

Council at its meeting on Tuesday, 26 April 2016:

1. authorised three proposals for underground power, to the new Underground Power Funding Program (Round 6), on the basis of 2/9^ths funding by the City, 4/9^ths funding by the affected lot owners and 3/9^ths funding by the State Government Grants Funds on the basis of 10-year repayment plans for the owners; and
2. agrees to consider inclusion of $50,000 for the provision of underground power expertise in the 2016/17 budget.