Christmas mayhem for Coast street without power

While most people were preparing their Christmas feast yesterday morning, disaster struck for residents at one Sunshine Coast street when their power was cut.

Wurtulla residents had a Christmas shock after a car ran into an underground pillar box, cutting their power for most of the day.

WHILE most people were preparing their Christmas feast yesterday morning, disaster struck for residents at one Sunshine Coast street when their power was cut for most of the day.

Residents at Parakeet Ct at Wurtulla had a not-so-joyous morning after a car backed into an underground pillar box at a neighbouring street, cutting their power from about 10am to 3.30pm.

All 14 homes were affected, with some having to make an emergency change of plans for the day.

An Energex spokesman said fixing an outage from damage to a pillar box took so long because it could cause problems further along the underground system.

"We can't help people running into pillar boxes unfortunately," he said.

 

Wurtulla residents had a Christmas shock after a car ran into an underground pillar box, cutting their power for most of the day.

As suburban streets and footpaths become virtual car parks over the festive season, Energex is urging drivers to be aware of the small green boxes.

Chris Rose from Energex's safety team said each pillar box protected power equipment that provided electricity to each property and, if damaged, could pose a significant safety risk.

"Under each pillar box are generally cables and fuses that supply 240 volts of power to the premises it sits outside," he said.

"If these are struck by a vehicle, even at low speed, the live contents of the box can be exposed causing significant injury, or worse, for anyone who comes in contact with it.

"So we are asking everyone parking on or near a footpath to keep a close eye out for our green pillar boxes and remain well clear of them."

In the event that someone's vehicle does come into contact with a pillar box there are a few things they can do to remain safe.

"If someone does accidentally strike one of our pillar boxes they should stay in their vehicle and, if they can, drive it at least 10 metres away before getting out and phone us on 13 19 62," Mr Rose said.

"If the vehicle becomes lodged on the pillar box and cannot be moved there's a high probability the outside of the vehicle could be live and the safest place to remain is in the vehicle and call 000.

"In this situation also urge anyone outside to keep well away and not to touch the vehicle.

"And in a worst case scenario that the occupants must leave the vehicle due to fire or other life-threatening issue the safest thing to do is jump from it being very careful not to touch the car and ground at the same time."

While it wasn't the most welcome Christmas surprise for residents at Parakeet Ct, the power outage didn't stop them from celebrating.

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