My adjournment is to the Minister for Energy and Resources, and the action I seek is that the minister arrange a briefing for me with Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) to discuss the current regulations for electrical line clearance. Energy Safe Victoria is the independent regulator which oversees the enforcement of safety around powerlines to prevent vegetation growing too close and causing risks like fires, electrocution and outages. Our state knows the devastating impacts of bushfire. Every summer we tense up and prepare for what might confront us, so these regulations are serious and have wideranging impacts. In my community of Northcote, however, the nuance of these regulations emerges in a different way by virtue of our densifying inner-urban landscape, and I will give an example.
On Gladstone Avenue in Northcote a group of residents have been passionately advocating to save the majestic brittle gums adorning their street, which are slated for removal because of their proximity to the powerlines. Darebin council is required under the regulations to keep trees clear of electrical lines on the public land that it manages. As trees grow slowly, the expectation is that they can be pruned to accommodate for safety. In this case it appears that did not occur, and in July 2020 the council was asked to act to maintain the minimum clearance space. ESV provided Darebin with guidance on options to achieve compliance without removing the trees. These included measures like applying conductor covers, installing aerial-bundled cable, realignment or putting the lines underground. I have also visited to meet with residents and speak with council to broker some alternative solutions. Regrettably, all alternatives were rejected by Darebin, so unfortunately two trees have been already removed and locals are rightly aggrieved. These were beautiful gums, not easily substituted.
All of this serves to paint a picture of the tensions that exist between the regulations, compliance, local government and the need to balance amenity and safety in our communities. I note that the ESV regulations are due to sunset in 2025, and this will be preceded by a review process involving stakeholder engagement and community consultation. This is appropriate given the seriousness of these regulations. Ahead of that work I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with ESV about how the regulations can be nuanced to be more sensitive to the very real imperative to maintain tree canopy in urban areas like Northcote. Mature trees are vital in our densified suburbs, providing streetscape, improving air quality and, crucially, mitigating the heat island effect. With some parts of Darebin holding the highest rating on the heat vulnerability index, this is an issue that both I and other residents feel deeply about. I thank the minister for engaging so collaboratively on these policy issues and look forward to speaking to ESV about how regulations can be reviewed and improved.
