Heading

  
Detail of official positions.
Current position of Bassendean Council
& Government agencies
 
Underground
POWER		 Boxes Safer streets, footpaths & lighting  
Improved home values
Bigger trees - less pruning costs
Better natural environment










  Bassendean Council decisions of Aug 28 2007 & Feb 19 2006 ...
and the current implications for ratepayers.
 
Decisions
 
Implications for ratepayers

A1.
The Bassendean Council will not
purchase a horizontal boring machine to speed up the underground power program within the Town.
The idea of using the machine for some of the time, say 3 weeks,
doing commercial work outside theTown and 1 week inside the Town
was forgotten. This would have meant that by 'investing the profit'
from outside operations, the Town would effectively get horizontal
boring for underground electricity (and stormwater drains & harvesting)
at no cost. Lost opportunity.
A2. 
 The Town will consider reserving
$50,000 for Town owned properties
to fund the undergrounding of power. 		The Council as normal are using ratepayers funds for paying for
the undergrounding of the Town's liability. While a good idea, there
is no concern for ratepayers may have to pay for their own
underground services.
A3. The CEO will make an expression of interest application in the 2009/2010
funding round for undergrounding
power in Ashfield.		 There is no guarantee that the Town will be successful in receiving
part funding. There is no consideration of the rest of Bassendean
that is not serviced by underground electricity. The decision for
Ashfield to be first was made in Feb 2006. It will be around 4 years
before the work might be started.

A4.

There was a request for a report in February 19 2006 to present the
financial implications to assist
ratepayers to fund their contribution
to  the proposed underground power program.

In a question to the Council (Aug 28), it was indicated that the report
with the Financial Implications may not be prepared until 2009 or
later. Surely the serious financial implications for ratepayers should
be outlined earlier so forward planning can be started and alternate
options considered.
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Multiple Government agencys
support undergrounding electricity

Check out the websites of the hands-on
WA Government Authorites / Stautory Corporations / Departments etc. They promote UNDERGROUND ELECTRICITY.

Travelling in old suburbs like Cottesloe, Claremont, Applecross and South Perth with underground power
and improved street lighting options, is very pleasant.
No wonder the real estate values have improved and
the streetscape is safer with less power poles positioned beside roads and at intersections, that can cause serious injury or worse.
                                         

Western Power's position
Horizon Energy (Underground even in Coral Bay)
Office of Energy
Office of Road Safety
Bureau of Transport Economics

There is less disruption to services
No danger from the wire / tree interaction
More tree varieties possible
The high cost of tree pruning is eliminated
Property values are improved considerably
The streetscape is improved
There are better street lighting options.
Road accidents & hence costs are reduced.

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