Cambridge to remove last poles in conversion to Underground Power

Published on 27 August 2019

One of the last electricity poles in the Town of Cambridge bearing overhead lines was removed on 27 August in a ceremony marked at the corner of Birkdale Street and Orrel Avenue, completing the Floreat East State Underground Power Project.

Cambridge Mayor Keri Shannon, Cambridge Chief Executive Officer John Giorgi JP, and Western Power Management, including Sean McGoldrick and Zane Christmas, attended the ceremony.

The Floreat East project included 263 new street lights installed, 575 poles removed, 535 new property connections and 18 ground-mounted transformers and switchgear units installed.

The conversion of the electricity supply of the remaining suburbs in the Town has been a $42.8 million project that commenced in 2018.

Two thirds of properties in the Town of Cambridge are already serviced by underground power- Wembley being converted in 1999, most of Wembley/West Leederville in 2002 and City Beach in 2006.

The final phase of the conversion was for the suburb of Floreat and the remaining areas of Wembley/West Leederville.

The last pole removal of the Floreat North project will also be marked with a ceremony on 3 September at Hamish's Park and signify the completion of the Floreat conversion.

By the time the project is fully complete in early 2020, 101 kilometres of cable will have been laid and 1155 new street light poles installed.

Cambridge Mayor Keri Shannon said that the project has been an important capital works project in order to achieve improved safety and reliability of power, and enhanced streetscapes and tree canopy within the Town.

"Once these four projects are finished, the Town of Cambridge can proudly say that 100% of the Town is supplied by underground power which will be a tremendous achievement for our residents," she said.