Nine schools get underground power
Govt to start work in Dry on underground cable lines
NINE Darwin schools with overhead power lines will have underground cabling lines installed, with works to begin this dry season.
But plans to provide underground power to 13 Darwin suburbs have been shelved in light of the Territory’s current financial woes.
Installing underground power at the schools is expected to take two years and cost $3 million. The suburbs without underground power are Stuart Park, The Gardens, Parap, Fannie Bay, Larrakeyah, Nakara, Wagaman, Jingili, Alawa, The Narrows, Moil, Coconut Grove and Ludmilla.
It’s hoped the scaled-back program targeting schools will allow students to get back to the classroom sooner after a severe weather event.
Today marks the first anniversary of Cyclone Marcus, which left 28,000 homes without power.
NINE Darwin schools with overhead power lines will have underground cabling lines installed, with works to begin this dry season.
The Sunday Territorian understands the NT Government will make the announcement tomorrow. Today marks the anniversary of Cyclone Marcus, which tore through the city, toppling trees and leaving 28,000 homes without power.
Installing underground power at the schools is expected to take two years and cost $3 million.
The Sunday Territorian understands the Government has had to re-evaluate the scope and timing of the underground power rollout due to the Territory’s crippling financial woes.
It’s hoped the scaled-back program targeting schools will allow students to get back to the classroom sooner after a severe weather event.
Across Darwin there are 13 suburbs with overhead lines waiting to have power put underground.
On April 27 last year Treasurer Nicole Manison announced that the Government would immediately start design and planning work with construction of the underground lines in the 13 suburbs to begin this financial year.
Ms Manison reassured the public again in September the Government would “shortly” announce the details of the program.
But in December last year the Gunner Government said it would put off making any announcements until this year as it was still trying to “identify the best way to rollout this program of works”.
There is still no timeline as to when Darwin’s remaining suburbs with overhead powerlines will have underground cabling installed or an indi- cation of which suburbs will be first.
The suburbs without underground power are Stuart Park, The Gardens, Parap, Fannie Bay, Larrakeyah, Nakara, Wagaman, Jingili, Alawa, The Narrows, Moil, Coconut Grove and Ludmilla.
The original undergrounding program was scrapped in 2012 with Nightcliff, Rapid Creek and Millner the only suburbs to have lines put underground.