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Newcastle Residents Scratching Their Heads Over Power Pole In Middle Of Road

Newcastle Residents Scratching Their Heads Over Power Pole In Middle Of Road

This is the ultimate planning fail

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Planning fails happen all over the world. All it takes is a little miscommunication or minor miscalculation in the early stages for a project to go belly up real quick.

That's what people in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, are experiencing right now after waking up and seeing a power pole in the middle of a road.

According to the Newcastle Herald, the local council has been widening the road at Foundry and Albert Street intersection in Wickham - however, because the council doesn't have authority over other objects, the pole had to remain.

City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath told Triple M radio: "We don't own the power poles. What's going on here is, about six months ago there was a fatality on an Ausgrid site. An employee of Ausgrid died.

"As a result, Ausgrid, they've had some issues with the [workers'] unions. They are prevented from undertaking any work on what we call live work."

So, after putting on their thinking caps, the council has decided to chuck some big orange bollards around the pole so that no one accidentally runs into it.

via GIPHY

It's left residents baffled, with local businessman Warrick saying to news.com.au: "Just bizarre - what else can you say?

"It's been there for a week, they've been working on this for ages. Apparently installing a roundabout eventually. The designer certainly made a few boo-boos."

In the meantime, people are being urged to be careful around the area.

Google Maps

An Ausgrid spokesperson has told news.com.au that people like Jeremy Bath shouldn't be pointing fingers because they're trying to be safe.

They told the news outlet: "It is disappointing to read comments by Council CEO Jeremy Bath who stated Council proceed with this work to move the kerb knowing full well that the pole would be left in the roadway as a result.

"Councils across our network have respected the process Ausgrid has gone through and have worked closely and collaboratively with us following the fatality as we go through the process of ensuring our workers are safe undertaking works."

Featured Image Credit: Facebook

Topics: Community, Australia