Calista, Medina and Leda now have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to achieve underground power through a Western Power initiative.
This initiative allocates the cost of replacing end-of-life overhead powerlines towards the cost of undergrounding the network.
Mayor Peter Feasey said the undergrounding of power can reduce power outages, improve streetscapes, and boost property values.
At its 20 August Ordinary Council Meeting, Council agreed to engage in a Memorandum Of Understanding with Western Power to deliver underground power in these three older suburbs in Kwinana which have ageing power networks.
In addition, the State Government provides a separate grant that further reduces the cost of undergrounding power.
The cost as part of the State Underground Power Program (SUPP) is shared between the State Government, Western Power, Local Government and property owners.
Mayor Feasey said Western Power offers the undergrounding, providing the additional cost is met.
“It is expected the cost to residents will be in the order of $3500, and to support residents the City will have in place a prefunding arrangement to allow the cost to be paid over a few years.
“The full cost of changeover is a one-off charge to residents, noting that power supply costs remain payable by the resident,” Mayor Feasey said.
Consultation for this and a few other key projects was conducted alongside the Strategic Community Plan consultation document for its Major Review, in which the City undertook broad and specific consultation that demonstrated support for pursuing underground power.
Mayor Feasey said underground power was less prone to power outages and includes the upgrading of street lighting to current Australian standards, creating a safer environment for vehicles and pedestrians.
“It is also expected to generally result in increased property values,” Mayor Feasey said.
“It will enhance the streetscape through allowing the full development of verge trees which our community has consistently indicated as a key priority through both the Markyt Community and Wellbeing Scorecard and the Strategic Community Plan,” he said.
While the project is expected to commence within the next two years, it is however a Western Power project and there are a number of different underground projects that span for at least the next 25 years, so it could take longer to get underway.
Seventy-four per cent of people who voted for underground power, as part of the City’s Strategic Community Plan consultation, voted to proceed with the opportunity to receive underground power through the Western Power initiative.
Twenty-six per cent voted not to proceed. Consultation was delivered from 17 April 2025 to 18 May 2025.
The consultation document was made available at City owned facilities, through the City’s online engagement portal, Love My Kwinana, promoted through social media and a community roadshow of pop-up consultation opportunities was conducted.
The City received an overwhelmingly positive response to this community engagement, with all strategies and projects outlined in the Consultation Document gaining favourable feedback.
Due to the general support for the SUPP, the City will work with Western Power and the community to deliver the program in an equitable and affordable way, bearing in mind this Western Power project involves a small section of the community.