Bassendean TUPP Project
RELATED DOCUMENTS
FAQs
WESTERN POWER FLYER
PROJECT BOUNDARY MAP
PROJECT UPDATE LETTER
MORE INFORMATION
Visit Western Power’s website for more information on underground power:
https://www.westernpower.com.au/community/work-in-your-area/underground-power/
Contact Western Power for project-related questions:
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 131 087
Contact the Town of Bassendean for information about Council decisions and costs:
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 9377 8000
LATEST NEWS
Property owners and residents in the Bassendean TUPP project area will receive a project update letter in the coming weeks. The Town will continue to update the Town’s website as the project progresses.
Following on from the community survey conducted in November 2022 Council have authorised the CEO to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Western Power.
The Project is about to move into the detailed design phase which will be concluded by the end of 2023. You may see project personnel throughout the project area carrying out duties associated with the design phase.
Construction is still currently due to commence in May 2024 and will take approximately 12 months.
The final cost to ratepayers is still to be determined and the Town is aiming to update ratepayers shortly.
If you wish to provide feedback or ask a question, please send an email to [email protected].
BACKGROUND
The Targeted Underground Power Program (TUPP) is a new program, following on from the State Underground Power Program (SUPP), with the final SUPP projects expected to be completed in 2024.
The TUPP is a partnership between the State government, Western Power and local governments, with funding shared between the three program partners. It has been designed to maximise Western Power’s contribution to project costs, target parts of the network most in need of replacement and direct State government funding to lower socio-economic areas through tiered levels of State government support.
Western Power has initiated discussions with 12 local governments, including the Town, and will generate a pipeline of projects meeting its network replacement needs, as well as the needs of local governments and customers.
ENGAGEMENT
The Town has written to property owners within the project area in November 2022 requesting their participation in the TUPP Underground Power Community Survey. In completing the survey, property owners were advised they were not casting a vote for or against the proposed project. It was decided that Council as the community’s elected representatives would decide whether the Town would enter into a MOU with Western Power.
Overall, there was strong support for the project, with 183 or 75.6% of respondents in support compared to 59 or 24.4% of respondents against the project. Entering into the MOU with Western Power is consistent with the Town’s Underground Power Policy.
The Town will engage with affected residents on design considerations resulting from the project detailed design phase, such as proposed primary equipment locations, soon.
REINSTATEMENT WORKS
Prior to the start of the project Western Power or their contractor will carry out a dilapidation report on every property within the project area. Any damage caused by project works, including the verge adjacent to your property, will be rectified.
Affected residents may wish to take their own photos of the verge and the area between the meter box and the verge.
Residents should postpone any verge garden makeovers until after the project has been completed in the project area as every second verge will be impacted by horizontal drilling.
POWER DISRUPTION
The disruption of power associated with the changeover from overhead to a new underground connection will be kept to a minimum. Western Power or their contractor will notify affected residents 5-7 days prior to the commencement of works.
COST ESTIMATE
The final cost to ratepayers is still to be determined and the Town is aiming to update ratepayers shortly.
Western Power has provided an E30 cost estimate for the project. E30 means the cost may increase or decrease by up to 30%. Western Power will provide the Town with an E10 cost estimate as part of the Co-Funding Agreement, which is intended to be accurate to within 10%.
Following execution of a contract with the successful tenderer, Western Power will provide the Town with the final cost for the project.
The Town will need to levy a service charge on property owners to recover the cost of the project and the following information is relevant:
- For properties that require an underground consumer mains connection, the property owner will be required to contribute to both the Capex component and the Service Connection component.
- For properties with an existing underground consumer mains connection, the property owner will be required to contribute to the Capex component only.
- Details surrounding the service charge are still to be finalised.
- Pensioners may be eligible for a discount under the Rates and Charges (Rebates and Deferments) Act 1992.
- The Town has a Financial Hardship Policy to assist those who may be experiencing financial hardship.
BENEFITS OF UNDERGROUND POWER
The benefits of underground power are well-known, and are summarised on Western Power’s website, as follows:
- Improved public safety – with improved street lighting neighbourhoods are safer, and by removing poles there are less car collisions.
- Improved reliability and security – once the power is underground, you’ll experience fewer disruptions after major storm events, which means fewer power outages.
- Improved street appearance – who doesn’t want to live on a nice-looking street? No power lines create a more aesthetically pleasing neighbourhood.
- Increased property value – the absence of poles and wires and the inclusion of new street lighting has a positive impact on property values.
- Reduction in street tree pruning – no need to worry about trees getting in the way of poles anymore! Property owners and Local Government Authorities (LGAs) also save on maintenance costs, while also allowing the tree canopy to flourish.
- Lower life-cycle costs – underground power has minimal maintenance and operating costs.
- Improved opportunity for emerging technologies – helps pave the way for innovation and caters better to future power demand.