Plants and trees growing too close to powerlines are a safety risk and can cause power outages and fires. We understand how important it is to our customers that we deliver a safe and reliable electricity supply, that’s why we run the largest vegetation inspection program in the state, with three helicopters flying and scanning the entire network using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology each year.
LiDAR measures the distances between trees and the powerlines and informs cutting teams where and when to cut. We assess more than 13.5 million trees each year with more than 350 cutting staff working year-round to cut more than 50,000 spans (the distance between two poles) to keep the community safe.
The best advice is to avoid planting underneath or directly next to powerlines altogether.
A tree may look small now, but many species will grow far taller than the clearance distance required to our powerlines and could become a major safety hazard.
If trees must be planted near to a powerline, we recommend choosing low canopy species that will reach a mature maximum height of 3.5 metres.
Talk to your local nursery and they can let you know what species will do well in your area and how big they’ll grow.
For information on tree cutting and other vegetation management activity we undertake, please refer to our frequently asked questions.
We have an obligation to clear any vegetation (trees, shrubs, plants etc) that poses a risk to our assets.
The Electricity Safety Act, including the Electrical Safety (Electric Line Clearance) regulations in 2020, requires us to meet certain minimum standards with regards to our vegetation management plans. This defines the clearance distances for trees and other vegetation need high voltage and low voltage powerlines.
Any work within the Vegetation No Go Zone can only be completed by or on behalf of CitiPower and Powercor by trained and authorised professionals. It is illegal and dangerous for any other person to complete these works within the No Go Zone.
Please see diagram below explaining the current vegetation No Go Zone specifications and requirements to carry out work.
For private customers, before submitting a Vegetation No Go Zone request (via the enquiry form at the bottom of this page) we recommend you contact your local council as approval to cut or remove your trees is usually required.
CitiPower and Powercor will only cut vegetation to the No Go Zone specifications. Any cutting or removal of vegetation further to this is the responsibility of the land owner. It is recommended you communicate with an arborist to understand all work that will be required.
Cutting trees inside the Vegetation No Go Zone to meet customer needs is a separate task to compliance cutting.
Yes. If you require a tree to be cleared from the vegetation no go zone, you can apply to have CitiPower and Powercor do so, by submitting a vegetation no go zone request. You will then receive a quote for works to be carried out. Costs may vary significantly depending on the amount of work and the equipment required. CitiPower or Powercor use suitably trained and qualified people who utilise specialised equipment to carry out this work.
Each year our helicopters scan our network, fitted with advanced Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology to scan for vegetation growing too close to powerlines.
The data can also be used to create an accurate digital model of the electricity network and its surroundings, and helps ensure we identify which trees to cut, by how much and when.
Please see our Vegetation Management Plan for more information about this work including how it complies with the Electricity Safety Act.
Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) is the government agency responsible for electrical safety issues,and ensuring electricity companies like us meet our responsibilities around vegetation management. The electricity safety line clearance regulations can be found on the Energy Safe Victoria website.
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