Helicopter used for power poles

A helicopter was used to drop new power poles into an electricity easement at Horsfield Bay last week.

The poles were needed to replace existing poles supplying homes in Horsfield Rd.

Energy Australia's network executive general manager Mr Geoff Lilliss said the project presented a number of technical challenges.

"The poles that need replacing were on a steep embankment behind homes in Horsfield Rd and there is no road access to the easement," Mr Lilliss said.

"That adds some new dimensions to a project that would normally be fairly straightforward because we're unable to use our specialist vehicles.

"We're hand-digging the holes, for example, and we've engaged the Bell Iroquois helicopter because it's the most practical way of getting the new poles on-site."

Mr Lilliss said Energy Australia was aiming to minimise impacts on the local community by using a helipad at Mount White as a base for the delivery operation.

This meant that the majority of the flight path would be over national parks instead of residential areas.

Mr Lilliss said supply to a small number of customers was interrupted during the work.

He said Energy Australia was spending more than $320 million in network improvements across the Central Coast from 2005-2010.

Press release, 24 Sep 2007 Allyn Hamonet, Energy Australia