By KATH GANNAWAY
YARRA Ranges residents may be eligible for funding to underground or upgrade private powerlines within their property.
The CFA District 13 Facebook recently alerted residents to the funding, saying undergrounding above ground lines not only reduced bushfire risks, but provided a more reliable service.
The Powerline Replacement Fund (PRF) will see powerlines in the highest risk bushfire areas replaced with insulated overhead, underground powerlines or new conductor technologies.
Funding for the $200 million fund is being directed in stages to priority areas identified in conjunction with the Fire Services Commissioner, Energy Safe Victoria, the Department and technical experts.
The fund will be directed at replacing both high voltage and private overhead electric lines in highest priority Local Government Areas.
The $200-million project is part of a $750-million package put in place by the Liberal Government in response to recommendations of the 2009 Bushfires Royal Commission.
The aim was to mitigate bushfire risk associated with single-wire earth return (SWER) power lines throughout Victoria by bundling or burying them and some work has already been done in Yarra Ranges Shire.
The Victorian Government Energy and Earth Resources website contains detailed information on the program, including eligibility criteria, frequently asked questions and a video providing an insight into the undergrounding of a private overhead electrical line and the scale of replacing high voltage powerlines.
There are also application guidelines and terms of participation and a list of registered electrical contractors.
