Published on Tuesday, 26 September 2017 at 12:00:00 AM
The days of dangerous and unsightly timber power poles and wires on Chapman Road and Durlacher Street are numbered with the removal of this infrastructure set to begin in a few weeks’ time.
City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said he was pleased the Minister had signed off on the project and the legacy issue of underground power in the CBD is finally going ahead.
“On Tuesday, the City received word that the Hon. Ben Wyatt, Minister for Energy, had signed the agreement between the City, Western Power and the State Government to fund the undergrounding of power in the CBD,” he said.
“This key legacy project has been on the agenda for many years and I am very pleased Council will be able to finally see this to completion.”
The $1.1 million project, which involves undergrounding of power on Chapman Road between Cathedral Avenue and Forrest Street and on Durlacher Street between Sanford Street and Marine Terrace, will be jointly funded, with Western Power and the State Government providing $500,000 via the State Underground Power Program Localised Enhancement Project fund and the City of Greater Geraldton contributing the remainder.
Mayor Van Styn said undergrounding of power lines in the CBD would have a number of positive outcomes including kick starting CBD revitalisation works.
“Once the timber power poles are removed the City can begin implementing ideas to enhance these important thoroughfares which align with the recently adopted City Centre Revitalisation Plan.
“Most importantly though, underground power will greatly improve community safety as a number of vehicles have collided with the Durlacher Street power poles in the past.”
Wester Power will be contact with local building owners, businesses and offices in the area to clarify next steps.
PICTURE CAPTION: Power poles along Durlacher Street.
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