Perth Voice Interactive

COOLBINIA residents say their verges and streets have been wrecked by faltering installation of underground power in their street.

House owners forked out around $5000 each for the work but complications saw contractor Diamond Communications down tools for 10 weeks.

Carnarvon Street’s Mike Davidson has taken a black humour approach, nicknaming the contractor “Diamonds take forever”: “My front nature strip is a mess also, although I do have a monster member sticking out of the ground, with its own play pen of many months,” he laughs.

“I think it would be wise to document this ‘installation’ for current and future installers as a John Cleese type training film.

“On a practical level if this installation is going to be profitable, it gives new life to the saying diamonds are forever.”

Neighbour Dee Allen doesn’t see the funny side.

“They started digging on February 19, severing my reticulation and gas lines.

“I had enough and went to MP Michael Sutherland and the power and water ombudsman to get it fixed. This week they fixed up the grass, but they still need to fix the brick paving that was brand new before they started, but got dug up and run over.  My driveway has three bitumen patches in it—very ugly.”

Arthur Mistilis reckons he could have dug by now the Euro tunnel single-handedly armed only with a pick and shovel.

“The work has been stop-start and no project can pay at that rate,” he says.

Western Power says the problems have been sorted and the project should be finished by the end of the year—on budget.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK