UNDER THREAT: Shady trees outside Kaniva Visitor Information Centre face the chop after being identifi ed as a potential danger by Powercor. Picture: CONTRIBUTED
WEST Wimmera Shire Council and Kaniva residents fear their town will lose its appeal if trees deemed dangerous to power lines are removed.
Powercor has audited the town's trees and marked ones that pose a threat to power lines with an orange dot, including those outside Kaniva Visitor Information Centre.
Kaniva's protest continues a wave of unrest across the Wimmera after Nhill and Horsham residents complained about excessive lopping in September and October.
West Wimmera Shire Mayor Bruce Meyer said many residents were upset by the prospect of losing trees that had taken more than 20 years to grow.
He said that the council would meet Powercor to discuss what would happen to the marked trees.
"They have put an orange dot on a lot of trees but we are unclear what that means," he said.
"The problem that has arisen is that letters were sent to people that said the trees would be removed with permission of the shire.
"The shire has definitely not given permission for any tree to be touched."
Cr Meyer said residents had raised their concerns with council after Powercor made an 'ugly mess' when lopping pine trees on the west side of Kaniva Showground.
"Now that people have seen the showground it is making them very nervous about what they might do to trees in the town," he said.
"Hopefully we can negotiate something but the ultimate say belongs with Powercor, not with the council.
"This problem will be compounded because Powercor is yet to audit Edenhope and the same thing will happen there so I can see there is going to be a lot of unhappiness before it is all done."
Kaniva resident Lyn Powell joins Horsham's Neville Strachan and Nhill's Helen Woodhouse-Herrick, who have called for residents to have a greater say in tree lopping.
She said removing or severely lopping trees could damage tourism at Kaniva.
"The town has been here for 150-plus years and the power has been on for 90 years and there has never been a fire from electricity lines," she said.
"I understand why they are doing it but I can't see why they have to remove the trees.
"People often come through the town and will stop because they see the beautiful trees."
Under the Electricity Safety Regulations 2010, trees on both public and private land can be cleared up to 90 centimetres from aerial bundled cables, one metre from insulated cables, 3.5 metres from all other power lines and 6.4 metres from transmission lines.
Powercor media relations manager Drew Douglas said the power provider had to maintain the region's trees to minimise bushfire hazards.
"The vital part of Powercor's vegetation management program is the requirement to consult with landowners and other affected people described in the code," he said.
"Consultation takes place before any work begins to ensure a balance between community interest and public safety."