WESTERN POWER says a termite-damaged power pole in Mardie Street wasn’t replaced because it was deemed ok.

Beaconsfield resident Andrew Luobikis had queried why the pole outside his house isn’t being replaced during a big upgrade along the street, despite having a distinctive lean and seemingly being in a worse condition than others that are being replaced (“Poles apart,” Herald, May 6, 2017).

But Western Power says outward appearance isn’t a reliable indicator of a pole’s overall condition.

“The pole in question was given a chemical treatment for white ants in March 2016, as part of that process, and crews revisited the pole two weeks later, reporting no evidence of white ant activity,” the authority said in a release.

The pole was inspected again in January this year and a cross arm replaced, but there was no other defects.