Changes to ease developer power access

The pathways to access power supply on new residential subdivisions will be simplified by the state government, in a move designed to accelerate project delivery and shorten a growing waitlist.

The changes announced today by Energy Minister Reece Whitby will give land developers multiple pathways to achieve pre-design conformance review clearance on subdivision projects.

Developers that can prove site construction has started, documentation is complete and that their project does not require network reinforcement will be able to apply direct to Landgate for certificates of title, rather than waiting for a design conformance review.

A second pathway will also be made available for developers, allowing them to submit a completed design that has passed an independent audit for review.

Design conformance reviews are carried out by Western Power.

The government said the pathways, designed in consultation with the Urban Development Institute of Australia WA and Western Power, would offer more flexibility to land developers.

“Through these newly announced measures, we’re providing land developers with pathways to bring their projects to market in a timely manner,” Mr Whitby said.

He said the measures would help the government deal with a significant and consistent rise in new power connection applications across the industry.

UDIA WA chief executive Tanya Steinbeck said it was important to address any delays impacting the development industry at times of shortage and highlighted the government’s collaboration on developing the new pathways.

“These measures are an example of what can be achieved when we work together toward a common goal, and that goal is making sure homes are delivered as efficiently, and affordably as possible for the people that need them,” she said.

A total of 80 projects with construction works complete or due for completion in the coming weeks have already been identified for clearance.

Opposition energy spokesperson Steve Thomas welcomed today’s announcement but said a red tape reduction was needed across the board, not just in the residential sector.

“People and industry have both been waiting far too long for approvals and connections to the grid,” he said.

“This is not a new issue, with the government having to acknowledge many times that timeframes for connections have blown out to unacceptable levels.”

Dr Thomas said the government had used a lack of staff to process applications for power connection as an excuse over time, and that a red tape reduction would be welcome.

“The delivery of a proposed ‘refined pre-Design Conformance Review (DCR) clearance process’ sounds like jargon but will be welcomed if it delivers on the promise of faster connections,” he said.

“The current problem is not the time taken to get the design done by the private sector but the time taken for Western Power engineers to examine and approve that design.”

Dr Thomas suggested the move to consider the results of independent audits on design plans represented a “partial privatisation of a process”, a move he welcomed.