Helicopters are scanning powerlines in Melbourne’s west and inner suburbs, as well as throughout the CBD during the next few weeks, as part of CitiPower and Powercor’s year-round vegetation management program.
People may see and hear the choppers, which fly about 300 metres above the ground and use technology known as Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) to scan the distance between tree branches and powerlines.
The helicopters will be scanning powerlines in and around Werribee, Melton, Point Cook and surrounds, as well as the CBD and inner suburbs.
Using the LiDAR data, specialist teams create 3D models of powerlines and their surroundings, helping to inform what vegetation needs to be cut.
Year-on-year data also helps keep track of growth rates for different vegetation types, allowing cutting teams to plan ahead for areas that show faster growth.
Powercor’s head of vegetation management, Ayce Cordy, said the extensive vegetation management program was about keeping power safe and reliable for homes and businesses.
“Our work is about reducing the risk of trees and branches coming into contact with powerlines, which can lead to power outages and fires,” he said.
“These flights are just part of our extensive work to keep the network safe and reliable for our communities.”
Each year CitiPower and Powercor uses a fleet of three helicopters to inspect 100 per cent of more than 80,000 kilometres of powerlines across Melbourne, as well as north, central and western Victoria.
During 2023, teams cut more than 500,000 trees and shrubs growing near more than 50,000 powerline spans (the distance between two poles).
Last year, network vegetation teams conducted a second vegetation inspection in the highest bushfire risk areas to help inform any further cutting that may need to occur ahead of summer.
Since 2022, Powercor has increased its cutting resources by 60% across the network.
Powercor is responsible for the cutting of trees near its powerlines within the boundaries of private properties and on some parts of public land (typically in rural areas) as designated by the state safety regulator, Energy Safe Victoria.
