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For all the latest energy safety news visit www.esv.vic.gov.au
Summer 2015
energysafe issue 38
Building near powerlines:
how to avoid a costly mistake
By Michelle Robertson,
Senior Media & Communications Advisor
ESV has launched a new campaign to
raise awareness of the need to design,
plan and build a safe distance away
from powerlines.
The campaign will target architects,
builders, planners, councils and property
owners to raise awareness of the regulations
that apply when building or renovating
a property near powerlines.
An advertising campaign will shortly
commence in industry publications and a new
A5 brochure has also been produced by ESV.
The campaign follows a number of incidents
in which costly rectification work has had to be
performed after buildings have been erected
too close to powerlines, resulting in breaches
of Victoria’s Electricity Safety (Installations)
Regulations 2009.
Regulation 313 sets out the minimum
clearance requirements between structures
and overhead electricity lines but is not widely
understood within the building industry.
Property owners may expect potential
issues to be picked up in the planning
process but this doesn’t necessarily occur
and building permits may be issued without
any check to determine if clearances from
the building to existing overhead powerlines
will be adequate.
Where issues are not identified early in
the building and planning process, it becomes
a significant problem for the property owner.
In some cases buildings have had to be
significantly modified. In others, electricity
distribution businesses have had to make
changes to the infrastructure.
In both cases the cost—which can
run into tens of thousands of dollars if
not more—is borne by the building’s
unwitting owner.
Electrical infrastructure and overhead
powerlines in the vicinity of proposed buildings
should be factored into plans before building
commences to ensure compliance with
prescribed clearance zones.
It’s also crucial to watch out for
powerlines and electrical infrastructure
during the construction phase. If the work
site is near overhead powerlines, the relevant
No Go Zone safety procedures must be
followed before scaffolding is erected.
Click here for details.
If you are building or working within
the distances highlighted in the brochure,
it is essential that you contact the relevant
distribution business before proceeding.
Contact phone numbers can be found
in the brochure.
Copies of ESV’s Building near
powerlines brochure (pictured right) can be
downloaded from www.esv.vic.gov.au.
Building design
near overhead
powerlines
Creating a safer state
with electricity and gas
lick here to download a copy
C
of the new brochure from the
ESV website
2014 Bendigo
TAFE Trade
Awards
Congratulations to all the winners of the
2014 Bendigo TAFE Trade Awards that
were held in December.
ESV sponsored two awards in the Electrical
category for Most Outstanding Second Year
Apprentice and Most Outstanding Third Year
Apprentice. Congratulations to Richard King,
who took out the top second-year honour, and
to Steven Mitchell, who won the third-year prize.
Richard is employed by Cola Solar and
Steven is employed by BRB Electrical.
A highlight of the night was the
announcement of the 2014 Apprentice of the
Year, which was awarded to Michael Jones.
Michael is employed by Laser Plumbing
and is currently completing his plumbing
apprenticeship.
Teaching staff from each trade area within
the Primary Industries and Trades School
were asked to nominate the most outstanding
apprenctice from their trade for 2014. A panel
interviewed each finalist and the results were
kept confidential until the awards ceremony.
Winners: Richard King (above) being presented with the Energy Safe Victoria Most Outstanding
Second Year Apprentice Award and (right) Steven Mitchell receiving his award. The Trade Awards
celebrate the achievements of the Bendigo region’s top apprentices and students.