The Town of Vincent is currently involved in its inaugural State Underground Power Project – the Highgate East Project – which will see more than 1300 residents and businesses in parts of Highgate, Mount Lawley, East Perth and Perth benefit from a $7.5 million investment in underground power works.
Residents and businesses in these areas will soon benefit from the project with improved power supply reliability, reduced risks of outages from storm damage, enhanced property values and of course the aesthetic benefits to our streetscape and visual amenity.
In April 2006 the Town wrote to affected owners with news that the area in which they owned property had been selected for inclusion in Round 3 of the State Underground Power Program. The newsletter was accompanied by a survey to gauge the level of support for the project and to ascertain ratepayers' preferred payment methods.
Support for the undergrounding of power was overwhelming with almost 83% of respondents favouring the progression of underground power in the Highgate East project area. A copy of the survey results can be found here (another survey was sent out to Beaufort Street as the project area had been expanded and the results can be found here).
Based on the outcome of the survey and our public consultation, on 22 August 2006 the Town gave final approval for the project to proceed and on 30 August 2006 Mayor Nick Catania was joined by the Hon. Francis Logan MLA, Minister for Energy, and Mr Doug Aberle, Managing Director of Western Power, for ceremony in which a partnership agreement was co-signed for funding the project.
During the signing ceremony Minister Logan commended the Town for its "great vision and foresight" with our commitment to the project.
From left: Town of Vincent CEO John Giorgi certifies the agreements; Mayor Nick Catania; the Hon. Francis Logan and; Doug Aberle.
Work will begin on 24 October 2006 and it is expected to be finished by October 2007. A copy of the second newsletter outlining the works and timeframe can be found here.
History of the State Underground Power Program
Highgate East Project Area
Frequently Asked Questions
Newsletter # 1 April 2006
Newsletter # 2 September 2006
Details on the State Underground Power Program can be found on the Office of Energy website.