Vandals have tried to rip up several metres of copper wiring alongside one of Hobart’s busiest highways, damaging the electrical cables that power information screens and streetlights near Hobart Airport.
The attempted theft, believed to have happened late on Sunday night, was discovered on Monday morning.
It has knocked out about 10 streetlights and inbound driver information boards along the Tasman Highway.
“Earlier today, assets belonging to the Department of State Growth and TasNetworks were damaged,” TasNetworks shared late on Monday night.
“Electrical cables, linking approximately 10 streetlights and inbound driver information boards on the Tasman Highway, have been stolen.”
The signs near the airport were among the first installed as part of the $22 million city-wide network, which provides real-time traffic updates to drivers.
TasNetworks is now working with the Department of State Growth to restore power to the affected infrastructure.
“We are still investigating the amount of damage to the cables but are hopeful affected signs will be repaired by the end of today,” a State Growth spokesperson told Pulse.
Both agencies are urging anyone with information about the theft to contact Tasmania Police.
