Environmental and Powerline Vegetation Management Policy

Purpose. This policy sets the environmental requirements for network work and the rules for controlling vegetation near powerlines under the electric line clearance regulations.

1.Scope

This policy applies to all field work including pole replacement, excavation, cable laying, substation maintenance, transmission access tracks and vegetation control. It applies the Victorian electric line clearance regulations and the environmental conditions in each client contract.

2.Environmental controls

Crews must identify native vegetation, waterways, cultural heritage sites and contaminated ground on the job risk assessment before starting, and must not clear vegetation or disturb ground outside the approved work area. Oil, fuel and chemicals must be stored and used with spill containment, and spills must be reported in the incident register. Treated pole off-cuts and removed poles must be disposed of through the approved contractor.

3.Vegetation clearance

Vegetation near powerlines will be assessed and cut to the minimum clearance space required by the regulations for the voltage and the bushfire risk area, and no more than the regulations permit without the client's and landowner's agreement. Assessments will be recorded on the asset inspection register with the clearance required, the work required and the priority.

• Assess the clearance space for the voltage and area
• Record the assessment before cutting
• Prune to the approved technique to protect tree health
• Notify occupiers before work in line with the regulations

4.Working near live apparatus

Vegetation control near live apparatus will be performed only by workers authorised for that work, from the ground, an elevated work platform or within the tree as their authorisation allows, maintaining safe approach distances and using insulated tools and plant as the procedure requires.

5.Bushfire risk

During the fire danger period, hot work, plant use in grassland and vegetation work will follow the bushfire mitigation restrictions on the job risk assessment. Work will stop on days of total fire ban unless the client approves it in writing.

6.Reporting

Environmental incidents, complaints from landowners and clearance breaches must be reported in the incident register and to the client within one business day.