One of metropolitan Melbourne’s main thoroughfares is being dramatically revamped with the removal of the characteristic blight of the Australian landscape &endash; overhead power lines.
For the past 14 months, Council has been undergrounding powerlines in Whitehorse Road.
While it is a relatively expensive program, costing $8 million over three years, to date there have been only positive responses to the program.
Acting Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Wright, said the program is building on the community spirit of Whitehorse.
“We saw it as a way to significantly improve the appearance of the City,” he said.
“With funds available from the sale of our former electricity supply authority, we were able to adequately finance the project and add to the amenity of this main thoroughfare.”
The changes have brought enormous benefits for traders and residents, with new streetscaping and the creation of outdoor cafe precincts free of ugly power poles and their plethora of wires.
Additionally, the project has reduced the number of intermittent power failures associated with possums and other sources of interruption.
Safety has also been increased with no risk of fire and other dangers which occur when traffic accidents bring power poles and wires crashing to the ground.
Ultimately the program will transform Whitehorse Road as a tree lined boulevard running right across the Municipality.
Funding for the program has also come from the State Government’s Powerline Relocation Committee and power company, United Energy.
