PEOPLE driving around St Ives may notice plastic pipes attached to power poles around the region.

The pipes were erected by the Northern Sydney Eruv Association to form an eruv — a 20km technical enclosure, which surrounds both private and public domains in St Ives.

media_camera The plastic conduits form the eruv. media_camera They have been attached to the power poles to create a technical enclosure.

This religious installation permits Orthodox Jews to carry or push everyday objects, like house keys and prams, within the enclosed space on holy days, such as Shabbat and Yom Kippur.

Rabbi Barak Cohen, of Masada College in St Ives, said eruvs were important parts of the Shabbat, or day of rest and worship, which runs from Friday night to Saturday night.

A previous application to construct an eruv at St Ives was rejected by the Land and Environment Court in 2012, as the design proposed poles to be dug into council land and the area bounded by wires.

media_camera A previous application to Ku-ring-gai Council faced opposition from the community. Picture: FIONA BRADY

An Ausgrid spokesman said the pipes posed no risk to the power supply or the community because they did not conduct electricity.

“We recognise there was some interest in the community about this matter, so we spoke to the association about the importance of them talking to the community about their plans,” he said.

“We’ve always been clear with the association and all other parties that attachments to Ausgrid poles must conform with our network standards.

“We’ve also made it clear that it’s the association’s responsibility to engage with the community and all other stakeholders.”

media_camera St Ives Progress Association chairman Kevin Callinan (centre) is opposed to the eruv.

St Ives Progress Association chairman Kevin Callinan is opposed to the eruv and said Ku-ring-gai Council needed to step in.

“It’s been up to council to approve it and they have run for cover,” he said. “If you read the roads act, it reads Ausgrid can do anything to provide energy and anything outside that is council.”

A Ku-ring-gai Council spokeswoman said the council wrote to Ausgrid on March 2 regarding the installation of the pipes and are awaiting a response.

About 3000 people observe the Jewish faith in St Ives which accounts for 13 per cent of the local population.

Eruvs have been established in Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney. The Sydney one incorporates Bondi and surrounding suburbs.

WHAT IS AN ERUV?

■ An eruv is a technical boundary that allows Orthodox Jews to carry everyday objects in public areas on Shabbat

■ Under Shabbat rules it is forbidden to carry any item — regardless of its weight, size or purpose on the Shabbat

■ This includes carrying anything from a “private” domain into a “public” one. Private and public do not refer to ownership, rather to the nature of the area. An enclosed area is considered a private domain, whereas an open area is considered public

■ Practically, it is forbidden to carry a prayer book from one’s home along the street and to a synagogue or to push a baby’s pram from a home to a synagogue on Shabbat

■ Even when a eruv is in place there are some items that cannot be carried including umbrellas and pens

Source chabad.org