Image: Supplied by Powercor

Watch out for high-tech lasers flying overhead.

Powercor is checking its powerline network using planes fitted with advanced Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR, pictured) technology that can scan trees and take detailed measurements of the distances between vegetation and poles or wires.

Head of Vegetation Management Hugh Vickers-Willis said it was part of Powercor’s work to keep communities safer, with specialist contractors and arborists only clearing what had to be done to meet industry regulations.

“Keeping vegetation away from powerlines reduces the risk of fires starting from powerlines and unplanned power outages,” he said.

“Doing these inspections now allows us to get our network ready for next summer given some of the state’s highest bushfire risk areas are in the Powercor network.”

Inspections are currently taking place across central and western Victoria, including Moorabool Shire.

Powercor inspects more than 85,000km of lines each year, using both aerial and ground-based inspection methods.

In 2019, it cleared vegetation from more than 75,000 powerline spans (the distance between two power poles).

Powercor is also hoping to spend an extra $22 million on maintenance and branch-clearing between 2021-26 under a new plan submitted to the Australian Energy Regulator.

It comes after the western Victorian food belt was reclassified as an official ‘hazardous bushfire risk area’.

Images: Powercor

Gabrielle Hodson
Author: Gabrielle Hodson

Online, radio, TV and print journalist since 1993. BA (Hum) majoring in journalism Deakin University. Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/MooraboolOnline I'd love to hear your news tips 🙂 Email -- news@mooraboolonloine.com.au OR send us a message via Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/MooraboolOnline