Replacing aged timber power poles is no big deal for Endeavour Energy – they replace about 700 poles between Helensburgh and Ulladulla each year.
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But every now and then upgrading poles requires a little more effort.
Monday was such a day with a special helicopter called in from Queensland to replace poles located in terrain at Mt Keira inaccessible by crane.
As an eerie quiet fell over the suburb following the evacuation of 30 homes, the low flying chopper emerged over the escarpment, noisily hovering over houses with its three tonne cargo attached.
The delicate operation went off without a hitch and by 3pm life in the neighbourhood had returned to normal.
Endeavour Energy regional manager Drew Rodwell said homes in Cato Place and Medway Drive were built after the transmission line was constructed in the 1970s.
“The poles were at the end of their working life and needed to be replaced to maintain a safe, reliable electricity supply,” he said.
“Steep terrain posed safety issues and I thank residents for vacating while we undertook this important upgrade.”