By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
SHOCKED residents are fighting against high-voltage overhead powerlines being installed without warning outside their homes on Cheltenham Road, Keysborough.
Eugene Domanski says his family discovered the plans for 66,000-volt lines when he found workers preparing to install power poles on a nature strip 13 metres from his house.
Powerlines have traditionally been buried along a 300-metre section of Cheltenham Road’s northern side, east of Corrigan Road – which includes out the front of Mr Domanski’s house.
Mr Domanski says he, like his neighbours, paid a premium – $5000 – for the underground electricity supply when he bought his house 33 years ago.
His plans to build an upstairs balcony, metres from the proposed 66,000-volt wires, are on hold.
“What’s the point of building it now? It’s not healthy for us – we’re living in the 21st century and we’re getting a 19th century solution.”
Neighbouring dentist Francis D’Monte and neighbour Brian Fitzgerald confirmed they had not been notified of the works.
The trio are among 30 petitioners urging United Energy to halt its plans to install the overhead powerlines, as part of a project to upgrade power poles along the road between Springvale Road to just west of Eastlink.
The wires will be connected to a new sub-station at the supplier’s depot at188 Cheltenham Road; works are expected to finish in early October.
Lyndhurst MP Martin Pakula last week asked the state’s Energy and Water Ombudsman to “investigate as a matter of urgency”.
“It’s just not good enough that residents wake up one morning to find power poles being installed outside their homes with no prior warning or consultation,” he told the Journal.
He said he had demanded United Energy management “explain their actions”.
United Energy spokesman Stuart Allott said the upgrade was “good news for the area”, necessary to accommodate Keysborough’s high residential and commercial growth.
“The option of undergrounding the powerlines was considered in the planning phase, however it was determined the method was impracticable due to physical space constraints, proximity of other utility assets (including gas and water), and excessive cost.
“The safety of our people and our customers is of the highest priority, and this project has been designed to meet all safety requirements set out in the Victorian Electricity Supply Industry Standards.”
Mr Allott said the company consulted broadly with VicRoads, Greater Dandenong Council and local MPs, and had prepared customer letters and fridge magnets for a mailout in early April.
“Unfortunately it appears a small number of customers may not have received this correspondence, and for that we sincerely apologise.”
A spokesman for Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria said the ombudsman did not publicly comment on individual cases.
