Mr HATTON - 1997-11-26
I refer him to the current trials taking place in Nightcliff in relation to undergrounding of power, announced following the 1997-98 budget Of course, that project has gone way beyond that now with the supplementation of mains water, the provision of conduiting for undergrounding of cable television and telecommunications services, and the provision of some concrete footpaths. Can the minister ...
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The member for Wanguri.
Mr HATTON: The member for Wanguri can mouth off. The fact is that the decision was taken after the election. Isn't that interesting?
When does the minister anticipate that this trial project will be completed? A range of consultations have occurred with the community. What has been the community response? What assessments are to occur following this trial? What decision-making process will lead to a continuation of a program of undergrounding powerlines and services through Nightcliff and Rapid Creek and, I hope, in all of the older suburbs of Darwin over a period of years, for the benefit of the community who live in a prime cyclone zone?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, my understanding is that initial works on the pilot scheme were delayed somewhat. That was primarily because the fence alignments in Bougainvillea Street, which were supposed to be on private property, were found to extend on to public property. It was necessary not only to realign them but also, in some cases, to resurvey some of the boundaries.
I understand the project is proceeding well. Some 40 houses along Bougainvillea Street have been connected to accept cable. With the 300 m of trench that has been dug along the street, the opportunity has been taken also to upgrade the water line and increase the water pressure. I understand there were some problems in that regard. There has been consultation with companies such as Austar about the provision of a facility for underground cabling of cable television. There is provision also for extra conduits etc for companies such as Telstra. This combination of work has defrayed some of the expense that was to be incurred by the Power and Water Authority and the government in the laying of this cable. It opens up some new areas to which the pilot scheme perhaps can be expanded because it will not cost as much as was originally thought.
When the exercise is completed and the 100 houses in the pilot scheme have been connected, we will interview the residents to determine their reaction. I am sure Cabinet will report at that time and will make a decision in the budgetary context as to whether or not the scheme will be expanded and, if so, how much will be spent per annum. Obviously, it is still a relatively expensive exercise. I must say that, in the few weeks that I have had responsibility for essential services, I have been amazed at the number of outages, particularly in the Darwin area, that are caused simply by trees blowing on to lines. Without question, it is the most obvious problem that we have with power distribution in Darwin. When we examine the cost of emergency crews to rectify problems in the wet season, I am sure we will see this pilot scheme as being beneficial. I have every confidence that the report will show that. I will advise the House at a later date of Cabinet's decision.
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Mr Bailey interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! The member for Wanguri.
Mr HATTON: The member for Wanguri can mouth off. The fact is that the decision was taken after the election. Isn't that interesting?
When does the minister anticipate that this trial project will be completed? A range of consultations have occurred with the community. What has been the community response? What assessments are to occur following this trial? What decision-making process will lead to a continuation of a program of undergrounding powerlines and services through Nightcliff and Rapid Creek and, I hope, in all of the older suburbs of Darwin over a period of years, for the benefit of the community who live in a prime cyclone zone?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, my understanding is that initial works on the pilot scheme were delayed somewhat. That was primarily because the fence alignments in Bougainvillea Street, which were supposed to be on private property, were found to extend on to public property. It was necessary not only to realign them but also, in some cases, to resurvey some of the boundaries.
I understand the project is proceeding well. Some 40 houses along Bougainvillea Street have been connected to accept cable. With the 300 m of trench that has been dug along the street, the opportunity has been taken also to upgrade the water line and increase the water pressure. I understand there were some problems in that regard. There has been consultation with companies such as Austar about the provision of a facility for underground cabling of cable television. There is provision also for extra conduits etc for companies such as Telstra. This combination of work has defrayed some of the expense that was to be incurred by the Power and Water Authority and the government in the laying of this cable. It opens up some new areas to which the pilot scheme perhaps can be expanded because it will not cost as much as was originally thought.
When the exercise is completed and the 100 houses in the pilot scheme have been connected, we will interview the residents to determine their reaction. I am sure Cabinet will report at that time and will make a decision in the budgetary context as to whether or not the scheme will be expanded and, if so, how much will be spent per annum. Obviously, it is still a relatively expensive exercise. I must say that, in the few weeks that I have had responsibility for essential services, I have been amazed at the number of outages, particularly in the Darwin area, that are caused simply by trees blowing on to lines. Without question, it is the most obvious problem that we have with power distribution in Darwin. When we examine the cost of emergency crews to rectify problems in the wet season, I am sure we will see this pilot scheme as being beneficial. I have every confidence that the report will show that. I will advise the House at a later date of Cabinet's decision.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016