Put a lid on it: Sydney

By Rebecca Fraser
FORMER Berwick mayor Sydney Pargeter has called on Telstra to improve the visibility of local telephone inspection pits amid fears for people’s safety.
Mr Pargeter said he was worried that bushwalkers and horses may stumble into the inspection pits and was particularly concerned about one pit situated 25 metres west of the Harkaway Quarry.
“People could injure themselves or cut off nearby phone lines.
“If someone fell into the pit they could break their legs.
“It is obviously a real liability and safety issue for Telstra and it needs to be addressed.
“Grass slashers and tractors may also come along and hit the pit, cutting some phone cables and even nearby phone lines,” he said.
Mr Pargeter said he had been contacting Telstra throughout this year to try to get them to address the safety issue.
“I have been on this issue for all of 2005.
“They put an orange coloured battery on the top but that is not a longterm solution as the lid is always off.
“They have put some soil around it as well but what they really need is some white marker posts and star pickets so that people can clearly see it.
“At the moment the pit is sitting in scrubby bush and is about three or four inches above the ground.
“Telstra has said they do not want to use pickets but something needs to be done about this so that people can see it,” he said.
A spokesperson for Telstra said the inspection pit had a heavy concrete lid and was quite safe for nearby pedestrians.
“We have become aware that the lid has been damaged and it will be repaired as a matter of priority,” she said.