Electricity project powers underground

A long-term resident of Karratha was among the benefactors of 30 houses in Millars Well connected to the Pilbara Underground Power Project last week.

Linda Piccoli, a 25-year resident of Karratha, was with Minister for Regional Development Brendon Grylls last week to witness her power being switched over to underground.

Mr Grylls said the switching of power marked a significant milestone in the project that aimed to have a further 676 lots connected by February next year.

“This (the Pilbara Underground Power Project) is one of the first decisions that we made,” he said.

“It seemed quite ridiculous to me that we make the power underground in Perth purely for aesthetic reasons when up here in the Pilbara there was a safety reason, so we saw this as a higher priority.”

Mr Grylls said despite recent announcements that the cost of the project had blown out by $130 million, the project “had” to be finished.

“Look we just have to, it’s not optional, we have to have underground power in the Pilbara and that work will be completed,” he said.

Horizon Power general manager corporate affairs and company secretary David Tovey said the project was a key safety measure for residents and workers who repaired lines during cyclones.

“From a safety perspective it is paramount that we remove the overhead powerlines so that during or after cyclonic events we’re not sending our crew out to a dangerous environment where lines might be live and likewise the public,” he said.