Independent Member for Alfred Cove Dr Janet Woollard is supporting a campaign to send a strong message to Energy Minister, the Hon Peter Collier MLC, regarding the need for underground power conversion in the suburbs in her Electorate.

"The campaign is in response to continuous requests by constituents for their suburbs to be converted to underground power," said Dr Woollard.

"It is aimed at letting the Minister know the demand for underground power in Alfred Cove. Residents have indicated and that the progress of the State Underground Power Program (Program) is too slow."

Dr Woollard said the suburbs of Ardross, Alfred Cove, Attadale North, Bicton, Booragoon, Melville and Palmyra are still without underground power. These are older established suburbs which the Program was targeted at.

"Since the Program’s inception in 1996, about 70,000 homes in the Metropolitan area have been converted with another 340,000 others still waiting to be converted," said Dr Woollard.

"What this translates to is 3,000 to 4,000 homes being converted each year, thus approximately 100 years before all homes will be converted."

Dr Woollard said the "Going Underground" Campaign comprises of two parts. The first is a flyer-postcard which is being distributed in the Melville Herald this Friday, 26 March.

"Constituents are encouraged to send the postcard, via my Electorate Office, to Minister Collier to let him know that they would like their suburb to be converted to underground power," said Dr Woollard.

"Secondly, a petition calling on the State Government to allocate more funding for the Program to enable earlier conversion is available in my office for constituents to sign.

"We need underground power in the Electorate so the risk of power failures caused by storms and fallen trees will be reduced; amenity of suburbs will be improved; and community’s safety will be enhanced by reducing hazards caused by fallen power lines.

"Earlier conversion will also mean residents would not have to pay more because of the increasing cost of materials and labour," said Dr Woollard.