Clovelly Beach “Left Hanging” As Residents Petition For Buried Power Lines

Clovelly residents are petitioning to have the power lines buried along Clovelly Beach, with the goal of making the streets safer and more attractive.

According to locals, despite Clovelly Beach being part of Sydney’s famous Bondi-Coogee coast-line walk, it is one of the few beaches along the route that have not had their lines buried by Randwick City Council.

In response, locals have launched a petition and a costed plan of $1.5 million to have Council work with to work with Ausgrid to put the lines underground and “end the eyesore”. The petition, which is aiming to accumulate at least 1,000 signatures, will be brought to the Clovelly Precinct meeting at Clovelly Surf Life Saving Club on November 9.

“Council’s own rules say undergrounding makes streets safer and more attractive. We agree. So why does that apply to a new apartment block, but not to one of Sydney’s best-loved beaches?” the public relations and lobby lead for the petition, Andy Benke, said. 

The campaign cited an incident on Pitt Street in July 2020, wherein strong winds brought a tree down onto the power lines and crushed a car, arguing that Clovelly faces the same harsh weather.

The Plan For Burying Clovelly Beach’s Powerlines

Alongside the petition, residents have created a concept plan that estimates it will cost $1.5 million to bury the lines around Clovelly Beach, with these new underground power lines planned for Victory Street, Melrose Parade, Lowe Street, Cliffbrook Parade, and Clovelly Road.

The plan would involve the current timber poles and cables to be removed and replaced by new low-voltage cables hidden from view, while new street-lights will also need to be installed to continue providing light to the streets.

The plan states that the cost of placing the lines underground is going to be shared between the Randwick City Council’s capital works program, NSW Government grants, and Ausgrid co-funding, who owns the network.

“Coogee got its lines buried. Randwick is getting its lines buried. Developers have to bury theirs. Clovelly’s beach is the only one left hanging,” Andy Berke said.

Randwick Council’s Current Policies

In November 2025, Randwick City Council voted that developments worth more than $10 million or those delivering over 12 homes must have their power lines placed underground.

The Randwick City Council has already spent $5 million on moving the lines on Coogee Bay Road underground. They are also currently working on a $6.3 million transformation of The Spot town centre in Randwick.