A program reducing the risk of bushfires igniting powerlines in regional Victoria which was developed by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) is leading to a huge reduction in bushfire risks according to an independent report.
Welcoming the positive report, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio said Aurecon’s Powerline Bushfire Safety Program Benefits Realisation Report found the DELWP Program resulted in a 44.1 per cent reduction in powerline bushfire risk across the State.
Ms D’Ambrosio said the Program was implemented following the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission into the 2009 Black Saturday Fires, which found that more than 70 per cent of deaths in the Black Saturday fires were caused by fires started by electrical infrastructure.
“The Program includes electricity asset and network control measures, including the installation of giant safety switches – Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiters (REFCLs),” she said.
“The switches, located in high bushfire risk areas, prevent fires starting by shutting off a powerline’s power when it makes contact with vegetation.
“By May 2023, more than 30,000 kilometres of high voltage powerlines across rural and regional Victoria will be protected.”
Ms D’Ambrosio said that, in the summer of 2019-20, it was estimated that the then 19 operational switches prevented 33 potentially catastrophic fire starts.
The Minister said the DELWP Program had also seen more than 700 kilometres of bare-wire powerlines in high bushfire risk areas replaced with underground or insulated overhead conductors.
“The Report also found the Powerline Bushfire Safety Program reduced the risk of electrocution of people working near powerlines, improved the overall resilience of the electricity network and promoted local industry development and job creation,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
The 53-page Independent Report can be accessed at this PS News link.
