Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) is urging Victorians in flood-impacted areas to take care around powerlines after efforts to move a bogged four-wheel drive resulted in a power outage.
Chairperson and Commissioner of ESV, Marnie Williams said efforts to move the four-wheel drive, just outside Noojee in Gippsland, resulted in a tree falling and causing the power outage.
Ms Williams said a towing company tied a winching strap from the car to a nearby tree in order to get it out.
“As the car was being pulled out the tree fell over, hitting overhead powerlines, located just above the bogged vehicle,” Ms Williams said.
“The falling tree contacted nearby powerlines and while the lines did not break, it did cause electricity safety systems to operate, leaving 694 surrounding properties without power for more than five hours,” she said.
“Fortunately, no one was injured.”
Ms Williams reminded Victorians to consider all hazards before carrying out any winching activities – taking into account overhead powerlines and the condition of the ground.
She said anyone using a tree as an anchor point should ensure it was far enough away from powerlines so that if it fell, powerlines wouldn’t be impacted.
“This may be particularly important in Victoria’s flood affected areas where the chances of getting a vehicle bogged has been much higher this year,” the Commissioner said.
“Never use a power pole or transmission tower as an anchor point when winching a vehicle as they are not designed for this purpose and may be damaged,” she said.
“It is illegal to damage or interfere with the electricity networks.”
