By Taylah Eastwell
Parts of the Dandenong Ranges power network are set to be rebuilt underground as the storm clean-up continues.
Ausnet confirmed that “a small section of the network” was expected to be rebuilt underground over the last few weeks.
“Damage to the Dandenong Ranges region following the recent storm is extensive, we will need to rebuild parts of the network,” an Ausnet spokesperson said.
“Getting the power back on as quickly and safely as possible is our priority, however, where it makes sense and is a faster solution, we will underground sections during the restoration,” they said.
The smashed power network has reignited calls for undergrounding across the entire mountain to prevent future outages in the disaster-prone region.
Twelve years after the Black Saturday bushfires sparked the 2009 Bushfires Royal Commission recommended underground cabling replace overhead powerlines, residents in the Dandenongs are still waiting.
Recommendation 27 pushed for overheads to be replaced in bushfire prone areas within 10 years.
In May 2014, Ausnet commenced a $40 million two-year program in the Dandenong ranges across 119 sites to improve reliability, which included approximately 51kms of 22-kilovolt powerlines.
Undergrounding the entire region would be costly and pose challenges due to rock and access challenges, according to Ausnet.
Here’s what the locals think:
Sue – “Wonder how the cost/benefit looks now, compared to the massive cost of re-building the network, and the immeasurable cost to the community. Underground would not be easy, but not impossible”.
Linda – “Myers Creek has cables underground yet we were out for six days”.
Walita – “All needs to be underground as recommended by the Black Saturday Royal Commision. Imagine if these winds had occured on a 42 degree day”.
Stephen – “The government should have legislation on all power to be underground even from the days of the SEC. We pay more than enough tariffs to make it so”.
Linda E – “Understand the cost would be high, but anywhere prone to bushfires and storms would benefit in the long term from having an underground power network. If not for each and every house, at least an ensured supply for some main hubs and community halls would at least be helpful for recovery scenarios”.
