The groundwork is being laid for potential removal of an eyesore in the Merimbula CBD – overhead power lines – after a report to council showed costs to be lower than expected at about $1.5 million.
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Councillor Mitchell Nadin said that both he and council’s director transport and utilities Terry Dodds were surprised as they had expected costs to be $7-10 million.
The report costs placing underground electricity cables in Market Street from the Lakeview Hotel to McDonalds at $130,000, from McDonalds to Top Fun at $470,000 and on Beach Street from Market Street to the War Memorial at $220,000.
“For a figure to come back like this is very encouraging. In terms of beautification the business community has said this was number one in terms of things to do,” Cr Nadin said.
However, Mr Dodds said costs did not include items such as removal of trees, relocation of other services or reinstatement of paving or roads.
There are also costs that would have to be borne by landlords for the connection into each building but Cr Nadin said he had received encouraging feedback from some landlords he had spoken with informally.
“This is something Merimbula has been looking to do for more than 35 years. It would play a huge role in beautification; it (overhead power lines) inhibits putting in large scale vegetation and inhibits the views,” he said.
There is no money allocated for the work although Cr Nadin thought that the state government’s money from the sale of “poles and wires” could be a potential source of funding.
However, in the meantime there will be an opportunity to get an idea of how such a change could affect the street view when the bypass works take place at the corner of Monaro and Market Streets.
Bypass project engineer David Buckley explained that the wires from the corner of Palmer Lane that cross Market Street to the jewellers and turn right to the end of the shops will go underground as part of the intersection works due to start June 19. The new Woolworths in Main Street is also believed to have underground cabling.
The report on costs will be annexed to the Spiire Masterplan for the Merimbula CBD. Council staff have also been asked to identify businesses/landlords that may be affected by any proposed relocation of overhead power lines and advise them of any future proposals.
