When the owners of a hillside estate on Wallumatta Road, Newport, needed to bring their property’s electrical infrastructure into the modern era, the scope was significant — and the hazards were real. Aging aerial mains encroaching on neighbouring boundaries, a switchboard mounted on asbestos panelling, and a ceramic fuse system completely unfit for 2026 household demands. Scott Electrics delivered a comprehensive $18,000 Level 2 infrastructure overhaul: new private pole, 3-phase aerial service, asbestos remediation, sub-board relocation, and EV-ready capacity — all coordinated alongside a concurrent $11,720 sewer infrastructure project by Pearla Plumbing & Electrical, delivering a $29,720 total property upgrade through a single point of contact.
Project Details
| Location | Wallumatta Road, Newport NSW |
| Property Type | Hillside Residential Estate |
| Electrical Scope | $18,000 — Level 2 ASP, 3-Phase Upgrade, Asbestos Remediation |
| Combined Project Value | $29,720 (electrical + sewer infrastructure) |
| Trade Partner | Pearla Plumbing & Electrical |
| Compliance | NSW Safety Standards 2026 — fully compliant |
| Outcome | EV-ready, 3-phase capable, asbestos-free infrastructure |
The Challenge — Aging Infrastructure on a Newport Hillside Estate
Newport and the wider Northern Beaches are home to some of Sydney’s most enviable properties — but the electrical infrastructure beneath many of them tells a different story. Homes built in the 1960s, 70s and 80s were designed around household electrical loads that bear no resemblance to what a modern Sydney home demands: EV charging, ducted air conditioning, induction cooking, home batteries, high-draw appliances running simultaneously across multiple circuits.
At Wallumatta Road, the problems were layered. The existing aerial mains had been run in a configuration that was now encroaching on neighbouring property boundaries — a legal and insurance liability that needed to be resolved regardless of anything else. The main switchboard was mounted directly onto asbestos-containing panelling, creating a serious health and safety risk for any tradesperson working on the board. And the underlying ceramic fuse system provided none of the safety switch protection required under current NSW standards.
Attempting to patch around these issues wasn’t viable. A full infrastructure overhaul was the only path to a property that was safe, compliant and capable of supporting the demands of a modern household.
The Solution — Integrated Level 2 Infrastructure Overhaul
Level 2 ASP Works — New Private Pole & 3-Phase Aerial Service
Resolving the boundary encroachment required a full reconfiguration of the aerial service. Scott Electrics, operating as a Level 2 Accredited Service Provider (ASP) authorised by Ausgrid, installed a new private pole and ran a new 3-phase aerial service to the property.
- New private pole installed at a compliant position within the property boundary
- 3-phase aerial service run from the street network to the new pole — eliminating the boundary encroachment entirely
- 3-phase capacity installed to support current and future high-load requirements including EV charging infrastructure
- All Level 2 ASP works completed under Ausgrid authorisation and documented for compliance
The upgrade from single-phase to 3-phase power is increasingly relevant for Newport and Northern Beaches properties. A single-phase 63-amp service — the standard for older homes — simply cannot support the simultaneous load of EV charging, ducted air conditioning and a modern kitchen without significant voltage drop and circuit conflicts. 3-phase power distributes load across three circuits, effectively tripling the available capacity and eliminating those conflicts entirely.Asbestos Remediation — Safe Removal of Legacy Panel
Asbestos Remediation — Safe Removal of Legacy Panel
Before any switchboard work could proceed, the asbestos-containing backing panel had to be safely removed and disposed of in accordance with NSW SafeWork regulations.
- Full asbestos assessment prior to removal — material tested and confirmed as asbestos-containing
- Safe removal carried out under NSW SafeWork asbestos removal protocols
- All asbestos-containing material bagged, labelled and disposed of at a licensed facility
- Site clearance confirmed before any new switchboard installation proceeded
- Ceramic fuse system decommissioned and removed simultaneously
Asbestos-backed switchboards are more common in older Sydney homes than most owners realise — particularly in properties built or last upgraded before 1990. The asbestos is typically encapsulated and stable when undisturbed, but any electrical work on the board disturbs it. Identification and safe removal before the upgrade is not optional — it is a legal requirement and a genuine safety necessity.
Sub-Board Relocation & Reconfiguration
With the asbestos panel removed and the new 3-phase service live, the sub-circuit infrastructure was completely reconfigured and relocated to a new internal sub-board.
- All existing sub-circuit wiring audited, reconfigured and connected to a new internal sub-board
- Sub-board position selected for optimal emergency accessibility — no longer in a difficult external location
- Full RCD protection installed across all circuits — power, lighting, and high-load appliance circuits
- Circuits correctly labelled and documented for the property compliance file
- Smart metering infrastructure installed — compatible with solar, battery and EV charging integration
The internal relocation of the sub-board also delivers a practical benefit for the homeowners: in the event of a tripped circuit or emergency, the board is now immediately accessible rather than requiring access to an external enclosure.
EV-Ready Infrastructure
With 3-phase power now live at the property, the installation was completed with EV charging infrastructure in mind.
- Dedicated circuit provisioned for EV charging — sized for a 7kW single-phase or 22kW 3-phase EV charger
- Consumer mains run positioned to allow future EV charger installation in the garage without additional mains work
- Load capacity verified across all three phases to confirm simultaneous EV charging and full household load is supported without voltage drop
Dual-Trade Coordination — Electrical & Sewer Infrastructure Delivered Simultaneously
The Wallumatta Road project ran concurrently with a major $11,720 sewer infrastructure project managed by Pearla Plumbing & Electrical — Scott Electrics’ dedicated dual-trade partner.
The coordination between the two scopes was not incidental. The consumer mains run — the underground cable connecting the new private pole to the property’s main switchboard — had to be planned in direct coordination with Pearla’s pipe relining and sewer infrastructure works. Underground services in close proximity to each other require precise positioning to avoid conflicts, comply with separation requirements under AS/NZS 3000 and protect the structural footprint of both installations.
By running both scopes simultaneously under a single coordinated plan:
- Consumer mains routes were planned around the sewer infrastructure from day one — no conflicts, no rework
- Both trades completed their underground works within the same excavation and reinstatement window — minimising disruption to the property’s grounds
- The homeowner dealt with a single point of contact for a $29,720 infrastructure project spanning two licensed trades
- A single compliance documentation package covering both scopes was produced on completion
For a hillside Newport property with landscaped grounds, the difference between coordinated dual-trade delivery and two independent contractors working sequentially is substantial — both in terms of disruption to the property and overall project timeline.
The Result — A Future-Ready Newport Estate
The completed infrastructure at Wallumatta Road represents a full-generation upgrade from what the property had before.
| Phase capacity | Single-phase → 3-phase (3× load capacity) |
| Asbestos | Fully remediated — compliant site clearance certificate issued |
| Safety switch coverage | 0% → 100% RCD protection across all circuits |
| EV charging | Dedicated circuit provisioned — charger-ready |
| Compliance | NSW Safety Standards 2026 — fully certified |
| Combined project value | $29,720 — single point of contact |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Level 2 ASP electrician and when do I need one for a Newport property?
A Level 2 Accredited Service Provider (ASP) is a licensed electrician authorised by Ausgrid or Endeavour Energy to work on the service mains — the infrastructure connecting your property to the street network. You need a Level 2 ASP for installing a private pole, upgrading from single-phase to 3-phase power, relocating aerial services, and metering upgrades. Standard licensed electricians cannot perform this work. Scott Electrics holds Level 2 ASP accreditation and manages the full process including Ausgrid coordination and compliance documentation.
What does upgrading from single-phase to 3-phase power actually deliver?
A standard single-phase 63-amp service provides roughly 14.5kW of total available capacity. A 3-phase service provides three times that — around 43.5kW — distributed across three circuits. In practical terms this means an EV charger, ducted air conditioning, an induction cooktop and a home battery system can all run simultaneously without voltage drop or nuisance circuit tripping. For Newport and Northern Beaches properties with high household loads, 3-phase is increasingly the correct long-term infrastructure choice.
Is asbestos common in Sydney switchboards and how is it handled?
Asbestos-backed switchboards are found in a significant proportion of Sydney homes built or last upgraded before approximately 1990. The asbestos is typically in the form of a compressed fibre backing sheet behind the fuse or circuit breaker panel. When undisturbed it is stable, but any electrical work on the board constitutes a disturbance. Under NSW SafeWork regulations, asbestos-containing material must be identified, safely removed by a licensed removalist and disposed of at a licensed facility before electrical work proceeds. Scott Electrics manages the full asbestos remediation process as part of a switchboard upgrade.
Can Scott Electrics manage both the electrical and plumbing scope of a large property upgrade?
Yes — through our dual-trade partnership with Pearla Plumbing & Electrical, Scott Electrics can deliver coordinated electrical and hydraulic infrastructure upgrades under a single project plan. This is particularly valuable for projects involving underground services, where consumer mains and sewer or stormwater infrastructure need to be routed in coordination. The homeowner has a single point of contact, a shared timeline, and a unified compliance documentation package on completion.
What is the cost of a 3-phase upgrade and Level 2 ASP works in Sydney’s Northern Beaches?
Costs vary significantly depending on the distance from the street network, whether a private pole is required, the condition of the existing switchboard, and whether concurrent works such as asbestos remediation are involved. The Wallumatta Road project — which included a new private pole, 3-phase aerial service, asbestos remediation, sub-board relocation and EV-ready provisioning — was completed for $18,000. Scott Electrics provides detailed written quotes with no hidden costs. Contact us for a site assessment and same-day quote.
If your Northern Beaches or Eastern Suburbs property has aging aerial mains, a single-phase service that can’t keep up with modern loads, or a switchboard you suspect may have asbestos backing — Scott Electrics can assess, plan and deliver the full infrastructure upgrade. As a Level 2 ASP, we manage everything from Ausgrid coordination to final compliance certification, with Pearla Plumbing available for any concurrent hydraulic works.