You are responsible for ensuring trees are kept clear of powerlines.
Home occupiers, including people renting, are responsible for making sure trees on a property are kept clear of powerlines. Tenants should check whether tree maintenance is covered in their rental agreement. If Western Power has to trim a tree because it is too close to powerlines, the occupier will be charged for the service.
Local councils are usually responsible for trimming trees on street verges. If you see a tree on the street verge growing too close to powerlines you should inform your local council or Western Power immediately on 1300 368 733.
The diagram to the left illustrates who is responsible for trimming trees:
The orange trees inside the boundaires of 'Property A' are the responsibility of the occupier of Property A; the green trees inside the boundaires of 'Property B' are the responsibility of the occupier of Property B.
The tree planted on the verge is the responsibility of the local council.
For rural areas please review the Guidelines for the management of vegetation near power lines (PDF 415kb)
The minimum clearance zones presented in the following table are a guide only. There are a number of technical issues that determine the exact clearance distances. The information does not include clearances for high voltage transmission lines.
| Powerline type | Horizontal clearance | Vertical clearance | Branches permitted above powerline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insulated service cable | 0.3 | 0.3 | Yes |
| LV Aerial Bundled Cable (LVABC) | 0.3 | 0.3 | Yes |
| Street light pilot cable | 0.3 | 0.3 | Yes |
| Bare urban LV conductors (and service cables) with less than a 70 m span | 2.0 | 0.6 | No* |
| Bare LV conductors with a span of 70 m span and above and all spans in high fi re risk areas | 2.5 | 2.0 | No* |
| Insulated HV conductors (ABC or CCT) | 1.0 | 1.0 | Yes |
| Bare urban HV conductors up to and including 33 kV with less than a 70 m span | 2.0 | 2.0 | No* |
| Bare non urban HV conductors up to and including 33 kV with less than a 70 m span | 2.0 | 2.0 | No* |
| Bare HV conductors up to and including 33 kV, with spans from 70 to 100 m and all spans less than 200 m in high fi re risk areas | 2.5 | 2.0 | No* |
| Bare HV conductors with spans from 100 to 200 m (up to and including 33 kV) | 4.0 | 2.5 | No* |
| Bare HV conductors with a span of 200 m and above (up to and including 33 kV) | 5.0 | 2.5 | No* |
•ABC - aerial bundled conductors •CCT - covered conductor thick • LV - low voltage - up to 1000 VAC •HV - high voltage - greater than 1000 VAC
*May be permitted, depending on vegetation species and condition. The occupier may still be responsible for damage caused by the tree and should seek an opinion from an independent qualifi ed tree expert or arboriculturist as to the risk of the tree causing damage.
Page update on 16 October 2008
