Electricity supply works at Whitmore Square spark stoush between Adelaide Lord Mayor and SA Power Networks
The Lord Mayor has slammed South Australia’s main electricity distributor over works in the CBD, and the “swimming pool” sized hole it has left.
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A stoush has broken out between the Adelaide Lord Mayor and South Australia’s main electricity distributor over power supply works in the CBD, which Jane Lomax-Smith says have created a hole “about the size of a swimming pool”.
SA Power Networks is undertaking civil works at Whitmore Square “to reinforce the power supply in the south-west area” of the CBD and support future projects such as the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital and the Central Market redevelopment.
Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith said the company did a poor job of notifying locals, including herself, of the work – a claim the company has disputed.
She took to social media on Tuesday to air her frustrations with the company over the work.
“This is the product of legislation that allows utilities to do what they like without warning a local council and just block a road without warning any of the local businesses or residents. It’s really appalling,” she said in a Facebook video.
“They can do anything they want in our state and it means that we have to really work hard to get them even to reinstate the damage that’s done.
“Theoretically they reinstate but actually the City of Adelaide has to pay staff to look around to find out where they drilled holes and then try and get them to remediate and bring it back up to scratch the way it was found.”
Ms Lomax-Smith told FIVAA the work was noisy, disruptive and resulted in hole “about the size of a swimming pool” near her home around the corner from Whitmore Square.
She said Morphett St had been blocked earlier but she wasn’t notified despite living there.
“We know that everything has to be upgraded. We know it has to happen, but it has to be slick. It has to be everybody knowing,” she said.
An Adelaide City Council spokesperson said the energy company did notify council administration that works and road closures would occur.
“We understand some level of notification to residents occurred about the traffic impacts, however it is the responsibility of the contractor undertaking the works to advise of the level of works/noise being generated to manage community expectations,” the spokesperson said.
“Following the works being completed, council staff will work with (SA Power Networks) to ensure the assets are reinstated to standard.”
An SA Power Networks spokesperson confirmed the company notified Adelaide City Council, local residents and businesses via SMS, letter drop, email and website on the works last month.
“In addition to the council notification, SA Power Networks adhered to the requirements of the Adelaide City Council city works permit application process, through which the council granted the right to occupy sections of road around Whitmore Square. As part of the permit approval, SA Power Networks was required to evidence public notifications,” the spokesperson said.
“We work closely with council staff to ensure any site remediation complies with Adelaide City Council design standards and have maintained an excellent track record with council staff in adhering tightly to those standards.”
SA Power Networks said the project was expected to be completed by early next week.
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Originally published as Electricity supply works at Whitmore Square spark stoush between Adelaide Lord Mayor and SA Power Networks
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