Power and Water is about to commence its bi-annual vegetation maintenance program in Alice Springs with a focus on balancing power supply reliability and public safety with community values.
Ensuring the power network is reliable and safe for the community and workers is essential and one of Power and Water’s key priorities.
“We understand people care about trees and value their place in our neighbourhoods, however trees and vegetation can present a significant risk to the power network and people’s safety,” said Gavin Kahl, Alice Springs Zone Manager.
Vegetation maintenance around power networks is necessary standard practice for electricity suppliers across Australia. Vegetation presents significant safety and power reliability risks through damage and faults caused by trees touching powerlines, falling branches bringing down live powerlines and potential sparking and fire ignition from contact with powerlines.
“We try very hard to find the right balance between supporting both trees and powerlines. Ultimately, the safety of the public and reliability of the power network is most important,” Mr Kahl said.
An assessment of the vegetation has determined how much needs to be trimmed to meet minimum clearances requirements from the powerlines and the best cutting method to maintain the health of each tree.
Implementing different cutting methods helps maintain the structural integrity of the tree, directing regrowth away from powerlines and minimising rapid and weak re-growth.
A number of young native shrubs were planted in 2021 to replace unsuitable or hazardous trees.
“During this maintenance cycle we will also check on the native shrubs planted as part of our tree replacement program and make sure they are staked and well mulched ahead of summer.”
Territory based specialist Infrastructure Vegetation Management Services Australia will carry out this year’s vegetation management program, which will start on 28 September 2022.
Power and Water urges anyone with concerns about the tree maintenance work in Alice Springs to visit powerwater.com.au/asveg or call 1800 245 092.
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