What's Happening in Balcatta, WA…

Areas around Osborne Park, Western Australia, are taking on a new look as old poles that harness electric power lines are being taken down and new undergrown cabling is installed.

The latest area to be affected by the switch to underground power in the City of Stirling is Coolbinia.

A council spokesman said that converting areas involved cost sharing between local governments, Western Power and the State Government initially, with costs recovered later from affected ratepayers.

Previously, similar projects were undertaken at nearby Wembley Downs, Woodlands and Mt Lawley.

The connection of the final 589 properties to the new system in Coolbinia took place in December, but the last power pole remained standing until March this year, when a small delegation of Western Power and council representatives gathered to see it removed.

Mayor Giovanni Italiano said the community and property owners would experience significant benefits from the use of underground power, particularly in improvements to the look of streetscapes and potential boosts to property values.

Simon Walsh, of Western Power, praised the $6.5million Coolbinia project, which was part of the State-wide Underground Power Project (SUPP).

In the right location, he said, underground power provided a safeguard for future generations.

The works undertaken in the City of Stirling followed flyer printing and a survey to gauge residents’ willingness to contribute to the programme.