Version No. 001
Electricity Safety (Electric Line Clearance) (Interim) Regulations 2004
S.R. No. 182/2004
Version as at 30 December 2004
table of provisions
RegulationPage
1
RegulationPage
1.Objectives
2.Authorising provisions
3.Commencement
4.Revocation
5.Definitions
6.Prescribed voltage
7.Prescribed Code of Practice
8.Prescribed penalty provisions
9.Management plans
10.Exemptions
11.Expiry
═══════════════
ENDNOTES
1. General Information
2. Table of Amendments
3. Explanatory Details
1
Version No. 001
Electricity Safety (Electric Line Clearance) (Interim) Regulations 2004
S.R. No. 182/2004
Version as at 30 December 2004
1
S.R. No. 182/2004
Electricity Safety (Electric Line Clearance) (Interim) Regulations 2004
1.Objectives
The objectives of these Regulations are to—
(a)prescribe the Code of Practice for Electric Line Clearance that provides for—
(i)standards and practices to be adopted and observed in tree pruning or clearing in the vicinity of electric lines and the keeping of the whole or any part of a tree clear of electric lines;
(ii)management procedures to minimise danger of electric lines causing fire or electrocution;
(iii)other matters for or with respect to the maintenance of electric lines;
(b)prescribe the penalty provisions of the Code;
(c)provide for management plans relating to compliance with the Code;
(d) other matters authorised under the Act relating to electric line clearance.
2.Authorising provisions
These Regulations are made under sections 89, 151 and 157 of the Electricity Safety Act 1998.
3.Commencement
These Regulations come into operation on 30December 2004.
4.Revocation
r. 3
The Electricity Safety (Electric Line Clearance) Regulations 1999[1] are revoked.
5.Definitions
In these Regulations—
"responsible person" means a responsible person referred to in section 84(4), (5), (6) or (7) of the Act;
"the Act" means the Electricity Safety Act 1998.
6.Prescribed voltage
For the purposes of the definition of "low voltage electric line" in section 3 of the Act, the prescribed voltage is 1000 volts alternating current or 1500volts direct current.
7.Prescribed Code of Practice
For the purposes of Part 8 of the Act, the Code of Practice for Electric Line Clearance (Vegetation) 1999 published in the Government Gazette (No.S169) on 25 November 1999 is prescribed as the Code of Practice for Electric Line Clearance.
8.Prescribed penalty provisions
For the purposes of section 90 of the Act clauses3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.2.1, 3.2.2, 3.2.7, 3.2.8, 3.3, 4.1.1 and 4.1.2 of the Code are the prescribed provisions of the Code.
9.Management plans
(1)A responsible person must take reasonable steps to ensure that a management plan relating to compliance with the Code has been prepared and approved by the Office.
(2)A responsible person must before 28 February 2005 prepare and submit to the Office for approval a management plan relating to compliance with the Code for the financial year next following.
Penalty:10 penalty units.
(3)The proposed management plan must specify—
(a)the name, address and telephone number of the responsible person;
r. 9
(b)the name, position, address and telephone number of the person who was responsible for the preparation of the plan;
(c)the name, position, address and telephone number of the persons who are responsible for carrying out the plan;
(d)the telephone number of a person who can be contacted in an emergency that requires clearance of an electric line that the responsible person is required to keep clear of trees or parts of trees;
(e)the objectives of the plan;
(f)a description, map or plan of the land to which the management plan applies identifying—
(i)the location of areas of trees and the predominant category of trees in those areas;
(ii)the location of electric lines that the responsible person is required to keep clear of trees or parts of trees;
(g)the long term strategies to minimise—
(i)the risk of electric lines starting fires or causing electrocution; and
(ii)the adverse effects of electric lines on surrounding trees or parts of trees;
(h)the methods proposed to be adopted for maintaining the clearance space required by the Code between electric lines and trees or parts of trees;
(i)the alternative methods that may be adopted for maintaining the clearance space required by the Code between electric lines and trees or parts of trees if a person objects to the methods proposed by the responsible person and the methods of calculating the costs of implementing the alternative methods;
r. 9
(j)the methods to be adopted to prevent excess pruning or clearing of trees;
(k)the length of the period between each pruning or clearing of trees;
(l)the qualifications, proficiency and experience that the responsible person will require of the persons who are to carry out the pruning or clearing of trees;
(m)details of the technical standards that the responsible person will apply or have regard to in connection with electric line clearance work;
(n)the management procedures to be adopted by the responsible person to ensure compliance with the Code, which must include details of the following—
(i)the procedures to be adopted to identify locations where the pruning or clearing of trees will be required;
(ii)the methods to be used to calculate the dimensions of the space beyond the clearance space required by the Codethat must be pruned or cleared to allow for anticipated tree regrowth into the clearance space between pruning or clearing;
(iii)the methods to be used to monitor conditions in the area adjacent to the clearance space or the regrowth space referred to in sub-paragraph (ii) to ensure that no trees or parts of trees in those areas could be a hazard to the safety of the electric lines under the range of weather conditions that can reasonably be expected to prevail in that area;
(iv)the methods to be used to calculate the length of the period required between each pruning or clearing of trees;
r. 9
(o)a description of the information and materials relating to electric line clearance that the responsible person makes available to the Office and the public and details of the place and times at which they are available;
(p)a description of the measures to assess the performance of the responsible person under the management plan;
(q)details of the audit processes to determine the responsible person's compliance with the Code.
(4)The Office may require the responsible person to provide further information or material in respect of the management plan.
(5)A responsible person referred to in sub-regulation(1) must not contravene or fail to comply with a requirement of the management plan that has been approved by the Office with respect to that person.
Penalty:20 penalty units.
10.Exemptions
r. 10
The Office may exempt a responsible person from any of the requirements of these Regulations subject to any conditions specified by the Office.
11.Expiry
These Regulations cease to have any force or effect on 30 June 2005.
═══════════════
ENDNOTES
1.General Information
Endnotes
The Electricity Safety (Electric Line Clearance) (Interim) Regulations 2004, S.R.No.182/2004 were made on 21 December 2004 by the Governor in Council under sections 89, 151 and 157 of the Electricity Safety Act 1998, No.25/1998 and came into operation on 30 December 2004: regulation 3.
The Electricity Safety (Electric Line Clearance) (Interim) Regulations 2004 will expire on 30 June 2005: regulation 11.
2.Table of Amendments
Endnotes
There are no amendments made to the Electricity Safety (Electric Line Clearance) (Interim) Regulations 2004 by statutory rules, subordinate instruments and Acts.
3.Explanatory Details
Endnotes
1
[1] Reg. 4: S.R. No. 139/1999.