Council Minutes - Town of Cambridge

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COUNCIL MINUTESTUESDAY 26 JUNE 2012project. A portion of these funds are effectively loaned to the projects, providing a return back tothe ELA. A number of other projects have also been discussed in the financial planningframework, which is yet to be confirmed by Council. Typically, these projects provide new orrenewed community infrastructure.Critical to Council's decision making is its community engagement, strategic communityplanning and financial planning activities, all currently underway and expected to be completedby the end of the year. This will help inform Council on what the community values and theunderground power survey will be an important input to the community planning.Project DetailsAs detailed above, the indicative cost of $11,300 per lot has been prepared based on workundertaken already by Western Power and contains a margin of error based on assumptions forthe actual number of connections and high load density lots.It is recommended that these figures be used for any survey of property owners and if thedecision was made to continue with the project, Western Power would be able to develop afurther design and cost estimate which would have improved accuracy but moreover realisticstaging and timetable plans. The costs to the Town to undertake this design work are notinconsiderable and may be in the order of 2% of the capital cost (ie $ 950,000). Western Powerhave been requested to provide an estimate for this work.Once a decision is made to proceed with the project, the following matters would need to beidentified and resolved:• Survey of all lots connected to overhead power, in terms of electrical load• Design of new underground system, including distribution system, to reticulate power toeach connected residence / property / facility as well as street lighting and other needs• Negotiations with Western Power regarding their internal cost recovery mechanism• Negotiations with Western Power and the State Government to recognise the benefits ofthe project for Western Power• Advise property owners who are not ratepayers (such as Hospitals etc) regarding costrecovery• Development and finalisation of cost recovery model recognising the various issuesWorks would be undertaken in stages. At this point in time it is reasonable to assume thatachievement of full underground power will take ~6 years from commencement of work.As evidenced by earlier stages undertaken in the Town, the physical impacts upon verges areusually well managed by the Contractors and supervising staff. It is noted however that theseworks will disturb verges as a necessary part of the project.An indicative program assuming all activities meet the project schedule has been developed asfollows:Dec 2012July 2013September 2013February 2014June 2014 to Dec 2019Survey completed and Council decision to initiate the projectWestern Power complete design to allow finalisation of cost modelCompletion of negotiations with Western Power regarding costsharingFinalisation of contracts with Western PowerWorks ProgramH:\CEO\GOV\COUNCIL MINUTES\12 MINUTES\JUNE 2012\C CR.DOCX 179
COUNCIL MINUTESTUESDAY 26 JUNE 2012The SurveyAt the February Meeting, a revised survey was considered but not adopted. The draft surveyhad a clear goal of evaluating the propensity of property owners to pay for underground power,and it was simple in its approach.However moving forward, it is considered that the survey should be more comprehensive andunderpinned by critical information that will allow a property owner to make an informeddecision.It is proposed that a market (community) research firm be engaged to design and develop thesurvey and information brochure. In its formulation, the survey design will need to address:1. Survey Objective2. Survey Methodology3. Survey Target (responses)4. Survey Questions5. Information content6. Survey Outcomes (what action Council will take as a result)The estimated cost of such a survey would be in the vicinity of $20,000.Elected Members would be consulted with the preparation of the survey.Round 6 of the State Underground Power Program (SUPP)Despite the current review of the underground power program, it is anticipated that theGuidelines for Round Six Major Residential Projects will be released later this year along with acall for expressions of interest from local governments. Round six will commence from 2015.Irrespective of the survey, it is the intent of the Town to continue to submit applications to theSUPP.Round 6 of Localised Enhancement Program (LEP)The Town submitted earlier in the year for grant funding for Round 6 of the LEP to undertakeunderground power in a section of Cambridge Street. The State has yet to advise applicants oftheir success or otherwise in this round. If successful, there would be a correspondingreduction of about $1m in the project costs to complete underground power in the Town.POLICY/STATUTORY IMPLICATIONS:There are no Policy or Statutory Implications related to this report.FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:As outlined in the detailed section of this report, the proposal to subsidise underground powerby 1/3 will require approximately $6.4 million from the Endowment Lands Account and $6.1from the Area Improvement Reserve. Over the long term, this is within the capabilities of theTown to fund, given the proceeds due from land sales subject to these proceeds being receivedas anticipatedH:\CEO\GOV\COUNCIL MINUTES\12 MINUTES\JUNE 2012\C CR.DOCX 180
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Council Minutes - Town of Cambridge

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