A senseless act of vandalism cut power and inconvenienced a number of customers in Camooweal, says Ergon.
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Ergon Customer Delivery Manager Mark Biffanti said vandals threw a piece of fence wire into powerlines on Saturday morning causing the lines to clash, burn and fall.
“It was a dangerous act of vandalism that could have seriously hurt someone. The vandals endangered their own lives and also inconvenienced 36 customers for four hours until our crews could restore power,” he said.
Crews found live powerlines on a nature strip and de-energised them quickly for public safety. Power was restored at 12.13pm after being interrupted at 8.19am. A bucket truck from Mount Isa was called in to reinstate the powerlines and energise them.
“Vandalism of Mount Isa streetlights is also an issue. Our crews replace up to 15 vandalised streetlights a month,” Mr Biffanti said.
“Public streetlights are important for individual and community safety. Vandalising them puts the whole community at risk.”
He encouraged people to report vandalism to police by calling triple zero.
Damaged or broken streetlights should be reported to Ergon on 132296 or www.ergon.com.au/network/outages-and-disruptions/report-faulty-street-lighting
Vandals can be prosecuted, fined and even gaoled especially if vandalism was found to have caused a death Mr Biffanti said.