The State Underground Power Program (SUPP) works in Coolbinia is scheduled to take place from July 2013 to July 2014, with 50% of costs subsidised by the State Government and the remaining 50% to be recovered from the property owners who benefit from the project. Find out more about the SUPP works.
What is the State Underground Power Project?
The State Underground Power Program (SUPP) is a State Government initiative to provide 50% of Perth households with underground power by the year 2010, which has been achieved. The program is now continuing into Round 5.
Nominations for proposed projects are invited from interested local government authorities prior to the commencement of each round.
The SUPP incorporates 2 types of projects:
• Major Residential Projects (MRP) involve large areas of predominantly residential properties. Preferred project sizes vary from 800 m2 to 1300 m2 lots, for Round 5 this has been revised to between 500 m2 and 800 m2 lots.
• Localised Enhancement Projects (LEP) are smaller in size and involve precinct areas of high significance to the community.
How are the works funded?
Under the State Underground Power Program (SUPP), 50% of project costs are subsidised by the State Government through the Office of Energy and Western Power, with the remaining 50% provided by the relevant local government authority.
The City of Stirling operates under a ‘user pays’ principle for funding, and its 50% contribution will be fully recovered from the owners of properties that benefit from the underground power works.
Previous projects in the City of Stirling
The State Underground Power Program (SUPP) commenced in 1996 and is administered in rounds of approximately 3 years duration.
The City of Stirling participated in Rounds 1 to 3 of the SUPP:
• Part of Woodlands/Doubleview benefit as a Major Residential Project (MRP) in Round 1.
• In Round 2, the Scarborough Beach precinct was designated as a Localised Enhancement Project (LEP) and the Mt Lawley precinct as an MRP.
• As MRPs, Churchlands and Wembley Downs had the work completed in 2 years during Round 3.
Balcatta was given preliminary approval as an MRP for Round 4. However a survey of affected owners in October 2010 revealed that the project was not supported by the majority of the respondents. Therefore, with no mandate to proceed on the basis of owner-funded contributions, the Council was unable to endorse the project.
Current and future projects in the City of Stirling
The City of Stirling nominated 5 areas for Round 5:
• Coolbinia
• Scarborough South
• Trigg
• Watermans/North Beach
• Trigg/North Beach.
The Office of Energy conducted a survey to determine the level of community support and the willingness of owners to contribute the required funding, and in December 2010, the Minister of Energy advised the City that Coolbinia was one of those selected for full design, implementation, and budgeting.
Western Power has provisionally scheduled the Coolbinia project to take place from July 2013 to July 2014.
The City is awaiting detailed cost analyses to be submitted to the Council by Western Power, before entering into an agreement with the Office of Energy and Western Power for works to begin.