At the February Ordinary Council Meeting, Council voted to commence Community Consultation to assess the interest of Mosman Park rate payers in advancing the underground power project to 2026.
The Town will now proceed with the Request for Quotation (RFQ) process to select a suitable agency to manage the detailed consultation, which will include thorough examination and full disclosure of estimated costings provided by Western Power. The Community Consultation is expected to begin in late March – early April.
The following quote can be attributed to Mayor Paul Shaw:
“Underground power is a valuable asset to our community, offering numerous benefits, including improved streetscapes, reduced street tree maintenance, and an increased tree canopy, among others. Over the past three years, the Town has worked extensively to explore how remaining properties can have their underground power brought forward. This consultation provides an opportunity for the community to share their views, helping us gauge resident interest and gather feedback on the potential to advance the project.”
Background information
For the past two decades, the Town of Mosman Park has been dedicated to advocating for the replacement of overhead power lines with underground infrastructure in collaboration with the State Government and Western Power.
In 2002-2003, around half of the Town of Mosman Park transitioned to underground power through Western Power’s State Underground Power Program (SUPP). However, the complexity and cost of undergrounding power, along with funding challenges, have meant that the remaining areas are yet to receive this upgrade.
Western Power currently estimates that the remaining underground power installation in Mosman Park will be completed between 2040 and 2045 under the Targeted Underground Power Program (TUPP). While the exact costs to rate payers is currently unknown, it is estimated that Western Power will cover between 70% and 100% of the capital costs.
The Town has investigated the option of bringing this project forward through Western Power’s Retrospective Undergrounding Project (RUP). If the project proceeds ahead of schedule, it is expected to begin in July 2026 and be completed by 2029. However, advancing the project would require significantly higher costs to be passed on to property owners, as the Town is not in a financial position to contribute to these expenses. The current estimated cost to rate payers ranges from approximately $4,500 for multi-unit dwellings, up to $16,000 for a single property owner without a current underground connection. Property owners would be required to cover the costs of undergrounding power over a maximum three-year period, with payments due in July 2026, July 202, and July 2028.