Western Power’s $33 million investment to upgrade the underground network in Northbridge is entering a critical stage, with works commencing along the longest single section of cable on Roe Street.
Western Power Program Manager, Ian Anderson, said the works are part of the broader Perth CBD strategy which is essential to help secure the future power supply for city businesses, residents and visitors.
“Western Power is delivering this important project to meet the energy needs of our city as it grows,” Mr Anderson said.
“With new residential developments, commercial spaces and entertainment precincts developing in the CBD, we’re planning for the future and putting in place the critical infrastructure now to support this growth.”
The work along Roe Street will involve installing a new high voltage underground cable between two substations using open trench digging to reinforce the electricity network.
Western Power Community Engagement Manager, Pip Brown, said although the physical work begins this week on Roe Street, consultation with residents and business owners about the project began in late 2018.
“Although we’re doing this work for the future needs of customers we’ve made sure that we don’t forget their current needs in the process,” Ms Brown said.
“We spoke to local businesses along the cable route to make sure we understood their access needs and concerns to help us modify works, where we can, to address those issues.
“What we have is a schedule of work that is, where possible, built around the concerns and needs of customers that will minimise the impact to residents, businesses and road users. It means we’ll be finished as quickly and as safely as possible, with as little pain as possible.”
Open trenching work begins this week and will be done with a mix of 24/7 works, five day works and daytime work only, depending on the section of Roe St being worked on.
