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For all the latest energy safety news visit www.esv.vic.gov.au
Winter 2015
energysafe issue 40
Government boosting powerline
safety in regional Victoria
By Georgina Waters, Senior
Communications & Engagement
Adviser—Powerline Bushfire Safety
Program
The Victorian Government continues
working to replace power poles and
powerlines in bushfire-prone areas to
improve safety and power supply as
part of its $200 million Powerline
Replacement Fund (PRF).
Works began in December 2013 to improve
powerline safety across 30 high-risk bushfire
locations, beginning in the Warburton District,
Dandenongs, Otways and Macedon Ranges.
The large-scale project is part of the
government’s 10-year Powerline Bushfire Safety
Program, established in the wake of the 2009
Black Saturday bushfires to improve electricity
assets and network controls to reduce the
likelihood of bushfires caused by powerlines.
The PRF is replacing old bare-wire
powerlines with new infrastructure such as
insulated overhead cable or underground
powerlines and new conductor technologies
to further enhance reliable electricity supply
A safer state: More than 220 private overhead lines
around Victoria have already been replaced
into the future.
Not only that, these works cut the risk of
damaged or clashing bare wires starting fires
to provide regional and rural Victorians with the
safest electrical network in the country.
The Powerline Bushfire Safety Program’s
Director, Ashley Hunt, said the program was
working hard to make sure that the tragedies
we saw on Black Saturday are not repeated.
“Extensive research and development
work has been carried out producing detailed
bushfire risk mapping to identify the best areas
and the best technologies to use to ensure
this infrastructure upgrade creates the biggest
possible reduction in risk for Victorians,” he said.
To date, more than 220 private overhead
electrical lines (POELs) have been replaced,
equating to 51km with more properties
scheduled to be replaced by year’s end.
In addition to the targeted replacement of
POELs, the program is working with distribution
businesses to upgrade major high-voltage
powerlines in priority areas. So far nine projects
have been completed with three more underway,
covering a total distance of 32km to safeguard
communities ahead of the next summer season.
Under the program, electrical network
bushfire mitigation activities have also delivered
the upgrade of more than 1370 sophisticated
automatic circuit reclosers (ACRs) allowing for
faster fault detection responses at times of high
bushfire risk and have seen the installation of
dampers to reduce the risk of lines clashing.
All this work aims to protect those at-risk
communities from bushfires across Victoria.
The PRF is being achieved in stages, involving
eligible landowners seeking quotes from
registered electrical contractors to undertake
the undergrounding of powerlines.
From midyear, the PRF is advancing into
new locations including the local government
areas of Campaspe, Benalla, Murrindindi and
Greater Geelong.
Updates can be found on the
Powerline Bushfire Safety
Program’s website at www.
energyandresources.vic.
gov.au/energy/safety-andemergencies/powerlinebushfire-safety-program/
powerline-replacement-fund