Council decided to abandon the draft Undergrounding Powerlines Policy at its November 2022 meeting and will continue to support the undergrounding of powerlines through our major infrastructure or open space upgrades, and also help interested groups of residents arrange for their powerlines to be put underground (at their own cost) if there is sufficient interest in a street. Read more about the Council resolution.
Putting powerlines underground can lead to more streets lined with dense tree canopies and help to prevent electricity outages during wild weather. However, the costs can be very expensive!
We drafted an Undergrounding Powerlines Policy to provide a framework for how Council could prioritise and support the undergrounding of powerlines in Bayside.
Opportunities included Council considering undergrounding powerlines through our major infrastructure or open space upgrades, and helping interested groups of residents pay for undergrounding works over time via a special charge on their rates notice.
Community feedback on the draft policy was received betwen 1 August - 4 September 2022.
Council resolved in November 2022 to abandon the draft Policy. Find out more.
The benefits of undergrounding powerlines include:
The biggest barrier to put powerlines underground is the cost.
The draft Policy provides four funding methods to support any future undergrounding of powerlines:
through Capital Works funded projects, where applicable.
Projects to consider scope of undergrounding of powerlines for civil infrastructure replacement and renewal projects, such as significant street upgrades, major car park renewal and major public open space upgrades.
Currently, there is no undergrounding powerlines funding scheme available in Victoria.
The policy will prioritise Council seeking funding should it become available in the future.
A draft Special Charge Scheme Policy is also open for consultation to enable a group of residents to pay for undergrounding works over time via a special charge on their rates notice. If more than 80% of affected residents support a Special Charge Scheme, opposing residents would still be liable for the charge.
If a group of residents approach Council seeking to underground the powerlines on their street (with collective agreement to pay all costs) we can facilitate the interaction between the service provider and the residents.
Timeline item 1 - complete
Investigate options to support undergrounding powerlines
Development of draft Undergrounding Powerlines Policy.
Timeline item 2 - active
Community consultation
1 August – 4 September 2022
Read about how we’re engagement with our community on this project.
Community feedback will be considered and amendments made to the draft Policy, as required.
Timeline item 3 - incomplete
Policy adopted
Council is expected to consider community feedback and adopting a proposed Policy at its November 2022 meeting.
Read answers to frequently asked questions, or ask your own question about the policy.
More information about this project, including alternative ways to make a submission and how we're consulting with our community.
A Special Rate and Special Charge Scheme is one of the possible funding methods for undergrounding powerlines.
Contact us
Bayside City Council, 76 Royal Avenue
PO Box 27, Sandringham VIC 3191
For general enquiries to Bayside Council
Information on this site is stored external to Bayside City Council and information entered into the site is subject to both Bayside City Council and Harvest Digital Planning Privacy Statements.
