Underground Power

The Council supports the concept of underground power and the City of Melville has successfully completed underground power projects in areas throughout the City.

The Underground Power Program is a partnership between the State Government (through the Office of Energy), Western Power and the City of Melville, to improve residential amenity and security of power supply.

Those City of Melville areas which have previously received underground power are: Applecross, Mount Pleasant, part of Booragoon and part of Bicton. Ardross West is currently at the design stage and Attadale South is currently under construction.

Benefits of underground power include: a more reliable power supply, a more pleasing streetscape, improved lighting and a safer roadside environment.

In February 2011, Attadale North was selected  by the Office of Energy to be included in Round 4 of the State Underground Power Program. Work is expected to commence late 2012.

In December 2010, Ardross West was selected in Round 5 of the State Underground Power Program. Western Power is expected to commence the work in 2012 or 2013.

(The Office of Energy's selection of projects uses a set of criteria that includes system reliability, feasibility and resident support.)

The City of Melville has recently undertaken a survey of property owners in Attadale North to determine the level of support for underground power within the project area.

The City is pleased to announce that the results of that survey indicate 90.5 per cent of  the more than 500 respondents indicated they were in support of the proposal to install underground power in the project area.

Click here for full survey results.

Information About The Project

There will be a series of advices delivered to each property as the various stages of the work commence. Each advice will have information about the work and the contractor’s phone number so queries can be dealt with quickly. In addition to this newsletter, there will be updates in local newspapers and a changeover newsletter delivered to all property owners and occupiers shortly before changeovers take place with details of changeover, street light installation and demolition of the existing overhead system. It is important that you read the information provided to understand how the work will be done and who to contact if you have any queries about the work.

Property Service Installation

A new underground cable will be installed from the front boundary to the meter box of each property that presently has an overhead connection. A Property Service Installation Advice will be delivered to the property a few days beforehand and the work should only take a day or two.

The cable is installed using underground drilling technology to minimise the impact on front gardens. It usually runs from where the Connection Pillar is to be installed, to the nearest point of the building, up in the cavity or externally to the roof space, across the ceiling, then down to the rear of the meter panel. Both ends of the cable remain unconnected until the changeover takes place.

Street Services Installation

Power cables will be installed under the verge in each street using directional drilling to minimise any impact. A number of holes are necessary for the drilling process, cable jointing and the connection of pillars to the system. Most Street Services work, including verge reinstatement, should be completed within 21 days, however work may take longer near equipment cabinets or on street corners. Occupiers will be advised of any restrictions on access to their properties or any necessary street closures. A Street Services Installation Advice will be delivered to the property a few days before this work commences.

Connection Pillars

These will be either a green mini pillar or a slightly larger universal pillar and they are installed as part of the Street Services work. Each Connection Pillar must be located just inside the front boundary of private property, usually in a front corner, and in every second property wherever possible so it can serve two properties. The locations of all the Connection Pillars are the most appropriate in terms of the existing infrastructure and ease of installation of the Property Service. Around 10% of the Connection Pillars are universal pillars and these are larger because they contain circuit control equipment. The system designers have determined their locations, as they are essential for the management of the circuitry in the area.

Completion of Cable Installation Work

After the cable installation work has been completed, a Completion Advice (Cable Installation) will be delivered to each property. It will confirm that the work is complete in and around the property and, as the contractor may not always be aware that damage has occurred, will ask occupiers to check their reticulation systems and the area around the work and advise the relevant contractor of any repairs needed.

Re-instatements and Repairs

These works are a major civil project and even with the non-invasive methods used, some verge and front garden disruption will occur. To assist the process, all verges and work areas will be video-taped before work commences.

Property Owners/Occupiers should direct any requests to the relevant contractor, as they are responsible for all re-instatements and repairs and have all the appropriate resources. The various advices delivered during the project will contain the contractor’s contact details.

Property Owners/Occupiers can always contact Western Power or the City of Melville on the numbers listed below if they are not satisfied with the contractor’s response.

Property Owners/Occupiers will not be reimbursed for work done by any other party to reinstate or repair damage caused by the contractor during the work without the contractor’s prior authorisation. Property Owners/Occupiers are encouraged to carry out minor re-instatements or repairs if they wish, provided no reimbursement is sought. The contractors reserve the right to charge for time taken to investigate complaints that are subsequently shown to be clearly unrelated to the underground power  work.

Streetlights

The new lights are generally located one metre from the edge of the roadway, are more closely spaced and where possible, are placed on the extensions of side boundaries and alternated to both sides of the road. Their locations are often very different to the old lights as the layout is designed to conform as closely as possible to the relevant Australian Standard. Queries relating to streetlight positions should be directed to the City of Melville. Most of the new lights will be erected and switched on in stages as the new circuits are energised, however some lights that may conflict with the old overhead system cannot be erected until it is demolished. A Streetlight Installation Advice will be delivered a few days before this work commences.

Changeovers

Once the property and street services installations in each area have been completed and energised, changeover from the existing overhead to the new underground system will take place.

Overhead Demolition

This will take place after all properties served by an overhead circuit have been changed over.

Transmission Lines

There are no Western Power transmission lines in the project area. All overhead wires and poles in the project area will be demolished.

Contact Details

Western Power - Tony Moore and Stephen Phelan-Hollatz

Phone 9219 2004 

City of Melville – Roy Bailey

Phone 9364 0674 or email Roy.Bailey@melville.wa.gov.au

Conclusion

This project will greatly improve the overall amenity of the area and bring significant benefits in terms of safety, security and continuity of supply. We assure you of our commitment to carry out the work with as little impact on property and occupiers as possible, and ask for your cooperation and tolerance.