THE clash between street trees and powerlines could cost Orange City Council $100,000 a year for the next decade.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Councillor Chris Gryllis wants council to spend up to $100,000 a year burying powerlines so Country Energy crews can avoid pruning established street trees interfering with powerlines.
“Year in and year out council gets the same old complaints when the trees are cut back,” Cr Gryllis said.
“We regard Orange as the colour city because of our beautiful trees, but at the moment some of the ones that have received the attention of Country Energy are anything other than beautiful.
“I think we should set up an annual figure, around $100,000, to bury a block, or half a block, or as many powerlines as we can.
“If we did that over the next 10 years, all the important tree-lined avenues in Orange would not have to be subjected to pruning.”
However, burying powerlines is a costly exercise.
Replacing 1.4km of overhead powerlines in Coronation Drive cost Country Energy $1.4 million last financial year.
It also spent $108,000 on an underground project in Autumn Street and $931,000 replacing lines in Hill Street.
This financial year, Country Energy will bury 334m of powerlines in Lord Place at a cost of $191,000 and spend $75,000 on burying 123m of lines in Anson Street.
“Our top priority has been to balance the need to provide a safe and reliable power supply while maintaining high standards of environmental care,” Country Energy regional general manager Chas McPhail said.
“Where possible, we are installing aerial bundled conductors (ABC) when upgrading overhead powerlines.
“The ABC enhances the reliability of the network due to the new powerlines being thicker and stronger than the current lines, as well as being encased in a special insulated cover, protecting them from environmental or wildlife interference.”
Mr McPhail said he was committed to nurturing and protecting the local environment but said public safety was Country Energy’s number one priority.
Cr Gryllis said burying powerlines was a realistic goal despite the price.
“I can recall in my time at Ophir County Council when we buried the powerlines in the central business district,” he said.
“It made a huge difference and is still one of my most satisfactory achievements because it made such a big difference.”
bevan.shields@ruralpress.com
