Are your trees too close to powerlines?
When trees or branches come into contact with powerlines, they can cause safety hazards, power outages and bushfires.
Property owners and occupiers are responsible for ensuring trees on their property stay clear of powerlines all year round.
Clearance zones may vary in your area depending on the type of conductor used to transport electricity, the fire risk of the area and the distance between two poles.
Allow for reasonable regrowth when trimming your trees, so they can be maintained outside the clearance zones all year round.
To keep it simple, you can follow the below standards to maintain a minimum safe distance between your trees and powerlines.
Clearance zones in urban areas
In urban areas, the minimum clearances are typically 2.5 metres to the side and 2 metres below. There should be no vegetation above the powerlines.
Clearance zones in rural areas
In rural areas the minimum clearances are typically 4 metres to the side and 2.5 metres below. There should be no vegetation above the powerlines.
To help prepare properties for the bushfire season, we suggest:
- keep vegetation away from electricity network assets, such as power poles and powerlines (note the minimum standards for clearance);
- ensure grasses and other fire ignition sources around electricity assets are trimmed;
- providing clear access to Western Power network assets so that work can be efficiently carried out particularly in the lead up to the bushfire season;
- comply with all of the bushfire readiness recommendations published by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).
Hire a professional to trim your trees
If your trees need trimming, we recommend hiring a qualified tree pruner or arborist to safely remove foliage that is too close to powerlines. Visit the Arboricultural Association of WA to find a qualified professional.
