Published on Monday, 21 September 2026 at 8:14:17 AM
The Town of Bassendean has welcomed unanimous support from Western Australian local government representatives for a review of the funding and delivery arrangements for the State’s underground power program.
At the WALGA Annual General Meeting on 17 September 2026, Town of Bassendean Mayor Kathryn Hamilton presented a motion calling on the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) to undertake a comprehensive review of the State’s underground power program.
The motion was seconded by City of Rockingham Mayor Lorna Buchan and passed without opposition, receiving 205 votes in support.
The motion calls on WALGA to review and advocate for the removal of inequities affecting local governments in the delivery of underground power projects, including funding arrangements, legislative reform and ongoing asset renewal liabilities.
Importantly, the motion does not seek to remove underground power programs. Underground power provides clear benefits to communities, has become an expected standard in new developments and is increasingly sought by established communities.
Instead, the motion seeks a fair and evidence-based review of whether the current funding and delivery arrangements remain appropriate and equitable.
A key concern is the financial burden currently placed on local governments. Under many underground power schemes, councils are required to make substantial upfront payments to Western Power during the construction phase, whilst recovering those costs from affected property owners over an extended period of years.
This effectively places local governments in the role of financier for electricity infrastructure that they do not own or operate, creating financial exposure, borrowing costs and an ongoing administrative burden for councils.
The motion also calls for legislative reform to enable Western Power to recover project costs directly from electricity consumers, rather than requiring local governments to borrow and finance the costs on Western Power’s behalf.
Western Power already has established systems for billing electricity customers. The review will consider whether a more direct mechanism for recovering underground power project costs could provide a fairer and more efficient approach.
The Town of Bassendean’s advocacy has been informed by its experience during engagement for the Bassendean North Underground Power Project.
While the Town supports the project, delays have contributed to the total project cost increasing from approximately $13.4 million to $25.7 million.
The Town requested greater flexibility from Western Power around payment timelines to help minimise borrowing costs and reduce the immediate financial burden on residents. These requests were not supported by Western Power.
The Bassendean North Underground Power Project is among the first projects being delivered through the State Government’s Targeted Underground Power Program, making it particularly important to establish a financially sustainable approach that can be applied to future projects across Western Australia.
“This is not simply an issue for Bassendean. It is about fairness, responsibility and establishing an equitable program for future projects,” Mayor Hamilton said.
“Underground power delivers real benefits to our communities, and we support the continuation of these programs. What we are seeking is a practical and equitable approach to how they are funded and delivered.
“We are asking for the system to be reviewed so that the financial and administrative responsibilities of underground power projects sit appropriately with the organisations delivering and owning the infrastructure.
“There is also an important question about who should be responsible for the future renewal of these assets. That is something that needs to be properly examined as part of this review.
As part of the motion, WALGA will undertake the review, seek feedback from local governments across the State and prepare recommendations for advocacy to the State Government on potential legislative, policy and funding reforms.
The Town of Bassendean looks forward to contributing to this process and working with WALGA, the State Government, Western Power and local governments across WA to support a sustainable and equitable approach to the delivery of underground power.
ENDS
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