Contractors have removed a power pole from the middle of a Wickham street, ending a month of controversy and comedy over an issue which attracted national attention.
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City of Newcastle left the pole stranded in the road in late October after completing roadworks on the corner of Foundry and Albert streets.
The pole, which at one point was left exposed when vandals removed the safety barriers around it, attracted social media memes, selfies and even a couple of commitment ceremonies.
Council chief executive officer Jeremy Bath said at the time that the council had deliberately left the pole in the tarmac after an Ausgrid ban on working on live power lines had held up a road-widening project.
He wrote on Facebook that completing the work was the "only way to get Ausgrid to temporarily lift their ban", which power companies imposed after a young worker died in April.
The Electrical Trades Union described the council's move as a "cheap, insensitive stunt", and Liberal councillor Brad Luke labelled it "one of the most dreadful management decisions I have ever seen".
Ausgrid said at the time that the council had left the pole in an "unsafe location", but on Monday it adopted a more light-hearted tone.
"The issue 'pole-arised' the community until this morning when contractors arrived to safely remove the pole, ending its national celebrity status," the company said in a statement.
"Ausgrid has been working with council to remove the pole and a replacement pole has been safely installed adjacent to the roadway. We would like to thank the community for its patience and good humour."
Ausgrid said "contractors engaged by the City of Newcastle" had moved the pole.