Helicopters are now scanning powerlines across Bendigo and surrounding parts of Central Victoria as Powercor ramps up its annual bushfire mitigation and vegetation management work.
Over the next four weeks, residents across Bendigo, Avoca, Maryborough, Castlemaine, Heathcote and Inglewood may see and hear low-flying aircraft as part of the inspection program.
The helicopters, operating at about 300 metres above ground level, are using Light Detection and Ranging technology, known as LiDAR, to measure the distance between powerlines and nearby vegetation.
The aerial scans form part of Powercor’s year-round effort to reduce bushfire risk and maintain the safety and reliability of its electricity network.
Data collected during the flights is used to build detailed 3D models of powerlines and surrounding tree cover, helping crews determine where vegetation needs to be cut back.
Powercor’s Head of Vegetation Management, Ayce Cordy, said accurate measurements were a critical part of the process each year.
“Inspecting and managing vegetation growing near powerlines is an essential part of how we keep power safe and reliable for our customers,” Mr Cordy said.
“By capturing data every year, we can track growth rates of vegetation across our network, helping us plan where to cut right now and when we may need to conduct cutting in the future.”
Powercor says it inspects 100 per cent of its more than 77,000 kilometres of powerlines across western Victoria each year, using a fleet of three helicopters.
Cutting program includes work on both private and public land.
Trained crews are permitted to enter private properties to cut trees back from powerlines, with clearance distances set by Victoria’s energy safety regulator, Energy Safe Victoria. In higher bushfire risk areas, larger clearance zones are required.
For private properties, customers are generally notified before pruning begins, with crews returning later to remove debris. Powercor says advance notice is not always possible when urgent cutting is identified.
The helicopter fleet includes one Bell 407 and two Bell 505 aircraft, each carrying a pilot and a LiDAR system operator.
The aircraft are fitted with RIEGL VUX-240 LiDAR systems and, while flying at a slower cruise speed of 129km/h for scanning work, are capable of capturing vast amounts of data across the network.
The Bell 407 has a top speed of 260km/h, a range of 870 kilometres and can collect up to 1TB of data per day.
The two Bell 505 helicopters each have a top speed of 232km/h, a range of 617 kilometres and can also capture around 1TB of data per aircraft each day.
Together, the aerial inspections provide Powercor with a detailed picture of vegetation growth across its network, supporting maintenance planning ahead of future fire seasons.
