Undergrounding Overhead Cables - Funding

The Council has established the Contestable Undergrounding Fund from 2006/07. This is a three-year pilot fund, providing $200,000 each year for residents wanting to place overhead cables underground.

The fund is designed to target areas that would receive the biggest public benefit from undergrounding, such as:

• main roads
• suburban or town centres
• heritage sites
• tourist routes or sites
• high-use pedestrian areas
• recreation sites
• scenic areas
• significant trees.

Approved projects either receive up to $100,000 or 25 percent of the project costs, whichever is less.

Payment of Residents' Share

Residents can pay for their share of the project costs in the following ways:

• 75 percent agree - If 75 percent of ratepayers agree to fund the project, the Council will pay the entire up-front costs of the project and charge all affected ratepayers a uniform targeted rate (plus interest) over an agreed time period not exceeding five years. Ratepayers can also pay costs up-front.
• Less than 75 percent agree - If the 75 percent target is not achieved, ratepayers in agreement can pay project costs through an up-front payment. The payment will be in equal quantities or some other allocation arrangement that residents agree amongst themselves.

Application

To apply for the Contestable Undergrounding Fund, complete the application form below. The closing date for applications for the 2006/07 fund was 23 June 2006.

Contestable Undergrounding Fund Application (40Kb PDF)

You can also receive the application by post by calling the Council.

Related Links

• Undergrounding Policy (70Kb PDF)

Department Details:
Infrastructure