THE CITY of Bayswater will lobby the State Government to get it to pledge support for free underground electricity for Bayswater residents.
Bayswater Mayor Lou Magro will write to Minister for Energy Francis Logan, Treasurer Eric Ripper and Premier Alan Carpenter in an effort to get their commitment to the project as an election pledge in the state election.
He will also write to councils seeking their support in lobbying the State and receiving possible refunds for councils that have already contributed to the Underground Power Project.
Cr Magro said the City must lobby for extra funds, as have other local councils which have received a significant amount of government funding.
“Look at the City of Swan, $5.1 million worth of grants. How logical is it to use every mechanism we have?” he asked.
“This is the most appropriate time, around the State election.
“If you don’t try, you don’t achieve in this world.”
Cr Magro said he would give the State Government 10 working days to reply to the proposal, otherwise the City would consider the State Government did not support the City.
But Cr Terry Kenyon said the suggestion of pushing the State Government so hard was a “furphy” and like holding the Government to ransom.
Deputy Mayor Michael Sabatino disagreed with Cr Kenyon’s suggestion that the idea was a furphy.
“What better time to force their hand?” Cr Sabatino asked.
“If they say yes, hold them to it. This is for the taxpayers. We are not asking for anything untoward.”
Cr Barry McKenna doubted the Government would supply the city with free underground power.
“I think you are going to be laughed at if you ask for it for free,” Cr McKenna said.
“You are going to make us look fairly foolish.”
However, Cr Magro and Cr McKenna agreed the City would have to lobby the State in numbers, as a local government, in order to wield sufficient power.