SA Power Networks tree trimming on Vegetation Management Portal as new rules take effect

Chances are SA Power Networks is planning to give your neighbourhood a visit soon to cut trees away from power lines. See when you’re due with our interactive map.

RULES that stop SA Power Networks from butchering street trees around low voltage powerlines in low-bushfire areas will be expanded across South Australia, preserving more of the state’s tree canopy.

A new interactive map on the electricity distributor’s website allows anyone to check whether trees on their street are going to be inspected or trimmed.

Trees are trimmed annually in bushfire areas and once every three years elsewhere.

The gentler pruning methods, which have already proved a success in suburban Adelaide and 10 regional towns, will now apply statewide.

SA Power Networks’ head of corporate affairs Paul Roberts said vegetation management used to be one of the major sources of complaints from customers and a cause of conflict with councils.

He said the “very sensible” regulatory changes adopted by state parliament, setting a risk-based approach to pruning across the state, would “improve visual outcomes and reduce costs over time for electricity customers who have to pay for pruning of trees under power lines”.

“We believe the regulations balance the need to minimise the risk of bushfire starts and maintain reliability, with the ambition to increase the greening of our state and capital,” he said.

“We want to see more trees planted across our state, but we need to ensure the right tree is planted so that we don’t create a problem that future generations will have to pay for.”

Trimming trees away from powerlines for SA Power Networks. Supplied.

The new regulations also include:

REMOVAL of saplings (less than five years old), woody weeds and other non-native vegetation directly below the clearance zone of a powerline in bushfire risk areas, before they grow and become a problem;

ELECTRONIC notifications to landowners;

PRUNING to improve tree health and structure allowed, rather than just lopping the branches near the lines without regard for the shape;

GREATER flexibility in species allowed under power lines, with regional lists to be developed by an Appropriate Species Advisory Committee.

Tree Management Officer, Henry Haavisto with street trees growing through low-voltage powerlines in Tranmere. Picture: Matt Loxton.

Campbelltown Council tree maintenance officer Henry Haavisto said the approach to tree trimming had definitely improved from past practices, which were “not sympathetic to the trees”.

“The tree was butchered,” he said. “The main thing was to clear the lines and that was the end result. Unfortunately the collateral damage was a damaged, ugly, ruined tree in some cases. So they’ve definitely improved, in better cutting while still covering their obligations to have a safe supply of electricity and not have any fires occur.”

Mr Haavisto said the old practice of “flat topping” was still seen interstate: “We are very lucky in this state, because if you see the pruning that’s done on the Eastern Seaboard, it is a lot a lot uglier and a lot more aggressive than what happens in Adelaide.”