Stowe Electric to underground power at Samantha Riley Drive
IT HAS taken four years and countless requests from the Kellyville community, but work to remove the power poles in the middle of Samantha Riley Drive is finally underway.
Hills Shire
Don't miss out on the headlines from Hills Shire. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Residents call for work to be completed on Samantha Riley Dr, Kellyville
- Motorists have voted on the worst roads in the Hills
IT MAY have taken four years and countless requests from the Kellyville community, but work to remove the poles in the middle of Samantha Riley Drive is finally underway.
Kellyville residents were notified this month that The Hills Shire Council awarded contractor, Stowe Aus, to relocate high-voltage wires underground in Samantha Riley Dr, between Poole Rd to Green Rd, and Hezlett Rd between Samantha Riley and Withers Rd.
A council spokeswoman said work has already commenced on the “undergrounding of electricity” on Samantha Riley Drive.
“However, wet weather has delayed excavation works,” she said. “Works will recommence once the weather improves.”
The spokeswoman said undergrounding of electricity will take approximately eight months to complete, however, “this is dependent on weather conditions and no unexpected issues”.
In June, the Times revealed council blamed Endeavour Energy for holding up the final approval of work to be conducted on the stretch of road.
North ward councillor Robyn Preston said the work was well overdue.
“Locals will be jumping for joy when they finally see those poles gone,” she said.
“We took the decision to upgrade the road before the poles came down and our hands were tied because we had to rely on other organisations to get these poles removed.
“But it is about time we see the back of them poles.”
Kellyville resident and former Ausgrid engineer John Dowsett said he was surprised the project would take eight months to complete.
“Samantha Riley Drive has been an eyesore for residents for many years, it is great that this issue is coming to a close, but it is well overdue,” Mr Dowsett said.
“I can’t understand why this would take eight months to complete, nor why council have not contracted someone to cut the hill — which is a major issue that needs to be rectified on this stretch of road.”
It is understood the poles will be removed by June, 2019.