Coogee Bay Rd: Ausgrid agree to postpone controversial April 6 power outage

Contentious plans to cut the lights on a key trading weekend in Sydney’s east have been momentarily put on hold. Here’s the latest.

A controversial power outage planned for a busy trading weekend in Sydney’s east has been temporarily paused as negotiations with locals continue.

This masthead previously revealed plans by energy provider Ausgrid to pull the plug on Coogee Bay Rd for an overnight outage on Sunday April 6.

Vendors were informed the outage – which will hit at least 13 businesses – would run from 8pm until 6am the following morning, and involve one lane of the busy beachside strip being blocked off.

The plan sparked backlash from local businesses for coinciding with the Inglis Sales, a century old bloodstock auction which typically draws thousands of out-of-towners to the area.

Maurice Lombards, owner of long standing Italian eatery La Spiaggia, said the outage could not be planned for a worse time, describing the weekend as “like a religious event”.

Vendors were also infuriated by inadequate consultation.

La Spiaggia Italian restaurant owner Maurice Lombardo.

A spokeswoman from Ausgrid has confirmed, in a statement, the original date of April 6 has been scrapped, citing the calendar clash as the reason why.

“Ausgrid was made aware the proposed timing of the necessary overnight work fell on an important trading weekend for local businesses and coincided with extra foot traffic generated by the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale at Rosehill,” the spokeswoman said

East ward councillor Carolyn Martin said the update was a “good result” and small business owners in area should have been considered from the start.

However tensions remain high with a future planned outage date still likely to be a Sunday rather than a Monday, which are typically quieter in terms of foot traffic.

Local business owner Brenton McHatton previously stated it was “common sense” to move the outage to a Monday evening with “so many alternatives”.

“If you think, realistically Monday is the quietest night of the week in Coogee, why wouldn’t you speak to the businesses and ask what’s best suited for them,” he said.

It is understood the outage must be co-ordinated with the licencing hours of the Coogee Bay Hotel, which shuts earlier on a Sunday.

Coogee Bay Rd is a busy strip of restaurants.

Access to the venue, which shuts at midnight on Sundays and between 4am and 6am for the rest of the week, would be blocked by the works being carried out.

The Ausgrid spokeswoman said consultation was ongoing with the affected customers to find a more suitable time.

“Ausgrid has postponed the work scheduled for Sunday, April 6 and are liaising with local business owners and affected customers to find a better time for the necessary maintenance to be carried out,” she said.

She said the works involved replacing “a rusted kiosk” and “carrying out a customer connection to that kiosk”.

“This activity does require the electrical supply to the kiosk to be isolated to ensure the work can be performed safely for our staff and the public.”