Managing bush fire risk

The Transgrid Electricity Network Safety Management System annual report focuses on bush fire compliance and reporting.  

The reports identifies risks to, and foreseeable threats posed by, our assets and activities that could cause a bush fire. It also identifies controls that we have applied to ensure the risk of bush fire to Transgrid and the community is as low as practicably possible.

Our Managing Bush Fire Risk factsheet outlines the procedures we have in place to minimise the risks of bush fire around our assets and communities where we operate.

Our comprehensive maintenance program ensures the network is safe for our people and the community. Our Bush Fire Risk Management Plan outlines our responsibility for managing the potential impact of bush fires on our electricity network assets. The plan outlines hazardous events of concern, and describes how we manage the associated risk.

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Preparing for bush fire season

The Rural Fire Service has a number of tools and fact sheets available to assist you in preparing for bush fire season including:
  • Get Ready For a Bush Fire – Four simple steps to making your bush fire survival plan
  • Bush Fire and Your Home – Prepare your home and property for bush fires
  • Information for rural landholders and farmers – helps NSW rural land holders prepare for and prevent bush fires.

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Reporting issues

Call our emergency number 1800 027 253 whenever you see:

  • Fallen powerlines
  • Damaged power poles or tower structures
  • Vegetation and tree encroachment or powerlines
  • Sparks or fire coming from Transgrid assets

Do not approach fallen powerlines as these can induce dangerous voltages many meters from the conductor.

Bush fire fact sheet

We have undertaken a Formal Safety Assessment specifically focused on bush fire risk, as part of our Electricity Safety Management System. This assessment has identified foreseeable threats posed by our assets and activities that could cause a bush fire, as well as the risk to our assets from bush fire. We adhere to the following principles:
  • Designed Right
  • Built Right
  • Operated Right
  • Maintained Right

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Aerial patrols

Every year, specialist helicopter patrols check more than 13,000 kilometres of transmission lines and infrastructure across our statewide network.

Annual inspections are an important part of our comprehensive maintenance program, and ensure the transmission network is safe for our staff and the community.

The patrols check for vegetation encroachments along transmission line easements, identify potential bushfire risks and assess the condition of Transgrid towers and transmission lines.

Transgrid has completed its comprehensive bushfire prevention program for 2024.

We are continuing to work closely with fire authorities and local communities to ensure the safe operation of our network during the 2024-2025 summer season. 

Thermographic surveying

In addition to aerial patrols, thermographic surveying is conducted every two years to assess for any further defects in Transgrid transmission lines and their connection points.

Thermographic surveying allows for a deeper inspection through heat-sensitive technology to ensure the safety of our staff and community.

Transgrid has planned flights over the following public areas:

  • Monday 24th February, 2025: Albury, Lavington, Thurgoona, Hume Weir
  • Tuesday 25th February, 2025: Yass, Murrumbateman, Springrange

Disclaimer: These dates and areas are subject to change due to weather and service conditions.

We are continuing to work closely with fire authorities and local communities to ensure the safe operation of our network during the 2024-2025 summer season.

Resources

Fact sheets

Document

Bushfire Fact Sheet

PDF 389.61 KB