AusNet has completed one of the largest powerline safety upgrades on its network, investing more than $40 million to reduce risk of fire starts in Victoria's highest-risk areas.
Over the past two months, AusNet has replaced 108 kilometres of ageing bare-wire powerlines with insulated ones which will reduce fire start risk and improves network resilience for customers and communities.
The major upgrade program was delivered across Chum Creek, Clonbinane, Don Valley, Flowerdale, Forbes, Glenburn, Healesville, High Camp, Kilmore, Kilmore East, Launching Place, Moranding, Reedy Creek, Sunday Creek, Toolangi, Tyaak, Willowmavin and Woori Yallock.
AusNet Executive General Manager Distribution, Andrew Linnie, said the work was targeted at Single Wire Earth Return (SWER) upgrades with the focus to build a safer and stronger network.
"This is a major investment that continues our delivery for community safety and network resilience across some of Victoria's most bushfire-prone areas.”
"Importantly for the community, we've replaced ageing infrastructure with insulated powerline technology that significantly reduces the risk of fire starts,” Mr Linnie said.
More than 100 new power poles were also installed, as insulated powerlines require additional structural support to safely traverse difficult terrain.
The upgrade was completed in challenging winter conditions across steep and hard-to-access landscapes. It is the largest concentration of SWER replacement works AusNet has ever delivered within such a short timeframe.
More than 120 people worked on the upgrade, including field crews, engineers, planners, contractors and community engagement specialists.