Bushfire risk areas - safe distances between powerlines and vegetation

Emergency clearances

The network operator can clear the vegetation on your property if you don’t maintain the clearance zones. But you will be responsible for the cost of their work, including if supply lines need to be disconnected in an emergency.

Safe clearance distances

Safe clearances zones in bushfire risk areas are larger than other areas of our state. Clearance zones vary and are based on the type of wire and the voltage.

Fully insulated conductors (powerline wires)

Fully insulated powerlines such as ABC, always require a clearance zone of 10 cm.

Bare or partially insulated powerlines

The required clearance will vary, depending on the voltage.

You can work it out by dividing the area between the poles into 4 sections. The wire or cable in the middle 2 sections can swing or sag more than the other sections so they need larger vertical and horizontal clearances.

Clearance and buffer zone diagram for bare or partially insulated conductors in bushfire risk areas

There is no ceiling on the height (vertical) clearance above the wires or cables.

Table 1: Clearance distances for bare and partially insulated conductors in bushfire risk areas - in metres


Voltage	Clearance at the pole	Span 0-50 m	Span 50-100m	Span 100-150 m	Span 150-200 m	Span 200-300 m	Span 300-400 m	Span over 400 m
Less than 1kV	V:0.5 m H:0.5 m	V:1.0 m H:1.0 m	V:1.5 m H:2.5 m	V:1.5 m H:3.5 m	-	-	-	-
7.6 and 11 kV	V:0.5 m H:0.5 m	V:1.5 m H:1.5 m	V:2.0 m H:2.5 m	V:2.5 m H:3.5 m	V:2.5 m H:4.5 m	V:2.5 m H:6.0 m	V:2.5 m H:6.0 m	V:2.5 m H:6.0 m
19 kV	V:0.5 m H:0.5 m	V:1.0 m H:1.0 m	V:1.0 m H:1.0 m	V:1.0 m H:2.5 m	V:1.0 m H:2.5 m	V:1.5 m H:5.0 m	V:2.0 m H:7.0 m	V:2.0 m H:9.0 m

Buffer zones

A buffer zone is an additional area around a clearance zone that allows for trees to move and grow.

Vertical and horizontal dimensions of the clearance zone vary according to the type and voltage of the conductor

Buffer zones located on private property begin on the outer edge of the clearance zone. They are:

2 metres for distribution powerlines
3 metres for transmission powerlines.

There is no legal buffer zone for trees and vegetation on public land. But applying a buffer zone will maximise safety.

Calculate a buffer zone

Draw a line between the outermost point of the wire or cable on one side of the stobie pole and the ground under it. Repeat this on the other side of the stobie pole.
From where these points reach the ground, draw two slanted lines upwards and at 45°.
Extend the slanted lines until you can draw a horizontal line five metres higher than the top of the stobie pole.

Planting new trees and vegetation

Safe clearance distances for trees and vegetation are determined by the voltage of the powerline.

Voltage	Prescribed clearance distance from the centre line
275kV	12.5 metres
132kV (Excluding single pole lines)	15.0 metres
132kV (Single pole)	10.0 metres
66kV	6.5 metres
All other voltages	6.0 metres

Planting within the clearance zone

The limits on the types of trees only apply if you’re planting within a certain distance from the centre line of the powerlines and if trees have a mature height of more than 2 metres.

Bare powerline conductors (wires) plant trees from list 1
Insulated powerline wires – plant trees from list 1 and 2
creating a second area by doubling the prescribed distance - plant trees from list 1 and 2

Planting prescribed distances for bare conductors in bushfire risk areas

You can plant any tree if it sits beyond double the prescribed clearance distance.