A planned overnight power outage on Coogee Bay Road has been postponed after strong opposition from local business owners who feared major losses during one of their busiest weekends of the year.
The outage, originally scheduled for Sunday, 6 April from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. the next morning, was set to affect at least 13 businesses along the popular Coogee Bay Road strip. The timing of the shutdown clashed with the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale at Rosehill, an event that typically draws thousands of visitors and boosts weekend foot traffic for nearby retailers and eateries.
Local Businesses Speak Out
Business owners raised serious concerns over the timing, saying they were not properly consulted and that the power cut would disrupt vital systems such as refrigeration and payment machines. Several operators described the weekend of the Easter sale as a peak trading period they rely on for a large share of their weekly revenue.
Maurice Lombardo, who runs the long-standing Italian restaurant La Spiaggia, believed the outage would have had a severe impact. He said the weekend brings consistent crowds and likened its importance to that of a major annual tradition for Coogee.
Others echoed his concerns, pointing out that the lack of early and open consultation made it difficult to prepare for or challenge the plan in time. Café and shop owners feared they’d be forced to close or operate under limited conditions, with some estimating significant losses in takings.
Ausgrid Responds
Energy provider Ausgrid confirmed it had postponed the maintenance work following feedback from affected businesses. The company acknowledged that the original date overlapped with a high-traffic weekend and stated it is now working with traders to find a better time to carry out the necessary repairs.
Ausgrid explained that the works involve replacing a rusted kiosk and making a customer connection, which requires power to be shut off for safety reasons. A spokesperson said they are liaising with local businesses to agree on a new date and time that will minimise disruption.
Although a new date has not been confirmed, it’s understood that Sunday nights remain the preferred option for the work due to the earlier closing hours of venues like the Coogee Bay Hotel, which shuts at midnight on Sundays but stays open until 4:00 a.m. or later on other nights.
Calls for Better Planning
East ward councillor Carolyn Martin said the postponement was a good outcome, but noted it should not have come to this. She believed local businesses should have been considered from the beginning, particularly when planning maintenance work in a busy hospitality precinct.
Business owner Brenton McHatton also weighed in, saying it would be “common sense” to schedule work on a Monday night instead. Mondays, he pointed out, are generally the quietest night of the week for Coogee, and would pose less risk to trade.
The incident has reignited calls for more consistent and transparent communication between infrastructure providers and small businesses, especially in areas that rely heavily on weekend trade.
Published 28-March-2025
