• The overhead power network across the City converted to underground power as part of Western Power’s Targeted Underground Power Program (TUPP).
• Prioritisation of the City’s lowest socio-economic areas and oldest suburbs with infrastructure most in need of upgrading with the suburbs of Koondoola and Girrawheen identified as highest priority.
• Prioritisation of areas at high risk of bushfires - Yanchep National Park (significant fire emergency in 2019) and Mariginiup (significant fire emergency in 2023).

The City’s aging overhead infrastructure is set to be replaced with like-for-like assets as part of Western Power’s renewal program. This is a missed opportunity to convert an outdated network to a fit-for-purpose underground network that will have wide reaching benefits for the community including:

• Improved safety – reduced risk of bush fires, vehicle accidents and storms; street lighting can be optimised for road and community safety rather than constrained by the placement of existing power poles.
• Reliability and quality of supply – underground power is less likely to experience disruptions during significant storm events which due to climate change are becoming more frequent and more severe.
• Improved visual amenity - potential positive impact on property values and an opportunity to improve the urban tree canopy cover by providing increased verge planting opportunities.
• Lower costs – underground power has minimal maintenance and operating costs compared to overhead power, and vegetation maintenance is eliminated.
• Timeframe – at present no suburbs within the City of Wanneroo have been included in Western Power’s Overhead Network Renewal Status ‘proposed underground power project’ or ‘potential project area’. Some suburbs are identified as ‘long term underground power region’ with an estimated timeframe of 15 – 30 years for conversion to underground power.

• Western Power to add priority areas from the City of Wanneroo to the Targeted Underground Power Program.
• State Government funding for high priority low socio-economic suburbs Koondoola and Girrawheen.
• State Government to prioritise and fund areas at high risk of bushfire including Yanchep National Park and Mariginiup.