Powerlink (advice agency) response - MCU2/0184

1.        INTRODUCTION


This guideline contains general information in relation to the management of co-use on/over
electricity Easements that are either held solely by Queensland Electricity Transmission
Corporation Limited trading as Powerlink Queensland.("Powerlink") or by joint ownership
arrangements with other Transmission or Distribution Entities. Powerlink is a government-
owned corporation that owns, develops, operates and maintains Queensland’s high-voltage
transmission network, which extends 1,700km from north of Cairns to the New South Wales
border.


Powerlink values the        safety of its employees, the public and property. This document
provides information relevant to the owners of property subject to an Easement in favour of
Powerlink or a Distribution Entity, or persons intending to undertake work on an Easement.
The guideline reflects philosophies to ensure the safe operation and maintenance of high
voltage transmission lines and associated public safety issues, while recognising                           the
landholder’s right to also make use of the affected land.


Powerlink’s transmission network is largely protected by registered Easements which contain
certain restrictive conditions designed to manage activities within the Easement paramaters.
Other control mechanisims may be employed where it is not possible to register Easements.
These mechanisms may take the form of written agreements, licenses, permits to occupy or
some     other form of      approval, collectively referred     to   as   Wayleave    Easements.        The
information contained in this document should be read in conjunction with, but not overide,
the conditions contained in any Easement document, arrangement, permit or licence.


The information provided in this document is intended to provide a general indication of co-
use activities that mayor may not be permitted on an Easement. Powerlink has sole

authority to apply the guideline in assessing whether co-use is permissable on a case-by-
case basis.



2.        GENERAL


An   electricity Easement is an encumbrance on the title of land which confers the right to
construct, operate and maintain an electricity powerline, cable or apparatus. Easements are
acquired by Powerlink to reinforce its legal right to have access to its lines, cables or
apparatus for the purposes of construction, operation, maintenance, renewal and
replacement. Registered Easements are a public record, and are generally acquired in
perpetuity. Easements refer to a clearly defined area and give Powerlink the ability to control
some development activities within that defined area.       Easements therefore impose an
obligation on affected property owners  to avoid doing anything which substantially interferes
with the rights of Powerlink.    Easement conditions and agreements may vary on each
corridor and more than one corridor can traverse a land parcel. Powerlink recommends
property owners be familiar with the conditions attached to the Easement over their land.               .




Powerlink adopts a policy of prudent avoidance in respect to electric and                magnetic fields.
For this reason, in addition to those of access and safety, Powerlink will not allow dwellings
or substantial structures (associated with people exposure) to be built either partially or

wholly within the Easement.

To maintain the safe operation of transmission lines, Powerlink has a statutory obligation to
keep clear any trees that will infringe safety clearance parameters. The clearances as set
out in the Electrical Safety Regulations 2002 Schedule 2, as well as the relevant Powerlink
vegetation maintenance rules, guides and work instructions, will all be used by Powerlink to
assess any applications made for a Material Change of Use or Co-use.




Page 3 of 14 Management of Easement Co-use Requests Guideline        Updated 06 September 2010 Version 6.0