Tree Management Plan · 2018-08-08 · management works, such as the trimming ... // 1.6 General enquiries General enquiries may be made by calling 131500. 1.7 Definition of tree

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Tree Management Plan Prepared in accordance with Part 5 of the Electricity Supply (Safety and Network Management) Regulation 2014, under the Electricity Supply Act 1995

DRAFT FOR CONSULTATION August 2018

DSYD2018/396982

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Title: Tree Management Plan v1.0 - NMD-ME-PL-139 |

Status: Draft for Public Consultation | Approved Date: 02/08/2018

Document Custodian: Electrical Engineering Manager

Approved By: Deputy Executive Director, Network Maintenance © Sydney Trains

UNCONTROLLED COPY WHEN PRINTED

Contents

1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 3

1.1 Purpose .................................................................................................................................... 3

1.2 Application of this Plan ............................................................................................................. 4

1.3 Reviewing and amending this Plan .......................................................................................... 4

1.4 Feedback on this Plan .............................................................................................................. 4

1.5 Public education and publicity programs ................................................................................. 4

1.6 General enquiries ..................................................................................................................... 4

1.7 Definition of tree and vegetation .............................................................................................. 4

2 The preservation of trees................................................................................................................. 4

3 Environmental factors ...................................................................................................................... 5

3.1 Heritage .................................................................................................................................... 5

3.2 Native vegetation and threatened species ............................................................................... 5

3.3 Erosion and sediment control ................................................................................................... 6

3.4 Herbicides ................................................................................................................................ 6

3.5 Waste management ................................................................................................................. 6

3.6 Weeds ...................................................................................................................................... 6

3.7 Visual impact ............................................................................................................................ 6

4 Qualifications required for vegetation management works ......................................................... 7

5 The responsibilities of vegetation management workers ............................................................ 7

6 Vegetation clearances ...................................................................................................................... 8

6.1 Risks of not maintaining vegetation clearances ....................................................................... 8

6.2 Determining vegetation clearances .......................................................................................... 8

7 How Sydney Trains carries out vegetation management works ................................................. 9

7.1 Compliance with legislation ......................................................................................... 9

7.2 Urgent or emergency vegetation management works ................................................ 9

7.3 Routine and other vegetation management works...................................................... 9

7.4 Pruning techniques ...................................................................................................... 9

7.5 Removal of vegetation ............................................................................................... 10

7.6 Treatment of saplings ................................................................................................ 10

7.7 Replacement of trees ................................................................................................ 10

7.8 Tree stumps ............................................................................................................... 10

8 The responsibilities of landowners and occupiers ..................................................................... 11

9 Planting guidelines ......................................................................................................................... 11

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Attachments Attachment A Electrical Network Map Attachment B Generic list of native species recommended for planting under

or around Sydney Trains electrical infrastructure

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1 Introduction

Sydney Trains provides train services throughout the Sydney CBD and greater metropolitan area.

To provide these services, Sydney Trains operates an electrical distribution network (the Electrical Network). A plan of the Electrical Network is attached at Attachment A. The Electrical Network includes high voltage overhead powerlines and cables, substations and overhead wiring systems.

Sydney Trains is a network operator and electricity distributor for the purposes of the Electricity Supply Act 1995 (ES Act) and electricity supply authority for the purposes of the State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 (ISEPP). The ES Act and ISEPP set out the powers and responsibilities of Sydney Trains relevant to its Electrical Network.

These powers and responsibilities include the carrying out of vegetation management works, such as the trimming and removal of vegetation near the Network and to maintain access tracks, when it is necessary to do so to protect:

People.

Property.

Powerlines and other electrical assets

Sydney Trains will carry out vegetation management works near the Electrical Network (including access tracks) in accordance with this Plan.

1.1 Purpose

This is a Tree Management Plan within the meaning of Part 5 of the Electrical

Supply (Safety and Network Management) Regulation 2014 (the Plan)..

This Plan sets out Sydney Trains' approach to vegetation management works on

and near the Electrical Network, in order to provide a safe, reliable, customer

focused and environmentally sustainable railway.

Sydney Trains’ vegetation management processes have been developed to achieve

the following objectives:

Minimise the danger to customers and communities posed by vegetation in close proximity to powerlines.

Improve reliability of Sydney Trains’ operations by reducing interruptions to electricity supply.

Reduce the risk of fires caused by electricity.

Minimise the impact of vegetation management on the environment and communities.

Provide an approach to vegetation management that is consistent with industry practices and legal requirements.

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1.2 Application of this Plan

This Plan applies to all vegetation management works carried out by Sydney Trains pursuant to the ES Act on public, private, residential and rural land.

1.3 Reviewing and amending this Plan

This Plan will be reviewed periodically, particularly where there are significant changes to legislation, policy, industry practice, standards, responsibilities or electrical infrastructure managed by Sydney Trains.

This Plan may be amended or replaced by a subsequent tree management plan.

1.4 Feedback on this Plan (This section will be finalized after public consultation)

Before its publication, this Plan was the subject of prior public consultation, including with local councils, residents and community groups.

Written submissions on this Plan can be made at any time. Submissions will be considered when the Plan is next reviewed.

1.5 Public education and publicity programs

Sydney Trains is committed to developing public education and publicity programs.

To this end, Sydney Trains has published a brochure which outlines the

responsibilities of property owners and occupiers in proximity to the Electrical

Network.

https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sydneytrains/community/power-lines/

1.6 General enquiries

General enquiries may be made by calling 131500.

1.7 Definition of tree and vegetation

For the purposes of this Plan:

"tree" means a tree taller than 3 metres, or having a canopy more than 3 metres

in diameter or having a trunk with a circumference at a height of more than 1

metre from the ground of more than 0.3 metres.

"vegetation" means all plant life including shrubs, plants and trees.

2 The preservation of trees

For the purposes of this Plan, Sydney Trains may remove any tree or trim any tree if:

Sydney Trains is of the opinion that it is necessary to do so to protect its power lines (or structures/equipment used for or in connection with the Electrical Network) or the safety of persons or property under or near its Electrical Network, and

Sydney Trains has considered alternative methods and is of the opinion that none of those methods are feasible in the circumstances, and

https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sydneytrains/community/power-lines/

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Sydney Trains acts in accordance with this Plan.

Sydney Trains may consider a number of longer term solutions to minimise the extent of tree trimming required in the future. For example, Sydney Trains continues to review alternative arrangements for specific electrical feeders, such as re-routing, placing underground or utilising another feeder to the Electrical Network.

If Sydney Trains forms the opinion that it is necessary to trim and/or remove a tree, these works will be carried out in accordance with this Plan.

3 Environmental factors

Sydney Trains maintains environmental management procedures, aligned to ISO

14001.

These environmental management procedures require Sydney Trains to identify the

environmental impacts of its activities and to use a risk assessment process to

determine the significance of those impacts.

Vegetation management works that are of minimal environmental impact will be

undertaken in accordance with this Plan, with standard environmental controls in

place.

This section provides a summary of the key environmental issues associated with

Sydney Trains' vegetation management works, together with its approach to

managing these issues.

3.1 Heritage

Vegetation pruning or removal works have the potential to impact on cultural

heritage features including Aboriginal sites, non-Aboriginal historic structures, relics,

memorial gardens, parks, and protected or heritage listed trees. Potential impacts to

significant, memorial and heritage trees may require approval under relevant

legislation.

In the event that the proposed vegetation pruning or removal works may affect an

identified heritage item or place, alternatives to trimming will be considered.

In the event that previously unidentified Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal historic objects or places are discovered during the course of works, work will cease and relevant notifications will be issued.

3.2 Native vegetation and threatened species

Sydney Trains recognises that in some instances its electrical easements and rail

corridors can contain valuable ecological areas which include native vegetation

and/or threatened species, populations or communities of flora and fauna.

Where such species or communities are known or likely to exist, vegetation

management activities will be carried out so to minimise impacts as per legislative

requirements.

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3.3 Erosion and sediment control

Disturbance to low-growing species, vegetative ground covers, root structures and topsoil can increase the potential for erosion. Sydney Trains will prevent or minimise erosion and sedimentation by limiting disturbance to soil and groundcover, and implementing sediment and erosion control in accordance with best practice and Landcom (NSW)Soils and Construction: Managing Urban Stormwater (2004) – ‘the Blue Book’.

3.4 Herbicides

Herbicides may be applied during vegetation management to prevent growth of vegetation near the Electrical Network. Application of herbicides will be carried out in accordance with Sydney Trains' pesticides procedures under relevant legislation.

3.5 Waste management

Vegetation management works can generate a range of wastes including; felled or cut vegetation, mulch, hazardous waste (such as excess chemicals and chemical containers) and general rubbish. In rural areas and bushland, where the landowner or occupier’s written permission has been obtained, cut vegetation may be left to decompose naturally. In other situations mulching or removal of debris may be required and where appropriate the mulch generated may be left to stabilise the site. Other disposal options requested by landowners or occupiers will be considered. Where debris from noxious and environmental weed species is likely to self-seed, it will be removed to a local landfill site or treated to prevent propagation. All other waste will be recycled where possible. Where waste cannot be recycled it will be removed from site and appropriately classified prior to lawful disposal.

3.6 Weeds

Sydney Trains' aim is to prevent, manage, minimise or eradicate priority weeds in

accordance with the Biosecurity Act 2015, when carrying out vegetation

management works. Sydney Trains will comply with priority weed requirements

through the application of some or all of the following measures as appropriate for

the location:

cleaning vehicles and equipment to remove weed material following

activities in weed infested areas,

removal of weed species and selective use of herbicides,

replanting and re-vegetating with low-growing locally indigenous plants, and

creating ground cover with leaves and mulch.

3.7 Visual impact

Sydney Trains recognises the importance of local aesthetics and will endeavour to

minimise visual impacts while maintaining necessary clearances around the

Electrical Network.

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Unfortunately, it is not always possible to achieve an aesthetically pleasing result,

because of:

the species of tree;

the position of the tree, for example the tree has either been planted directly

underneath or in close proximity to the Electrical Network; and

the lack of tree maintenance, including where trees have not been maintained

suitably from a young age near the Electrical Network.

4 Qualifications required for vegetation management works

Trimming or removing vegetation near the Electrical Network can be extremely

dangerous, especially during storms.

These works must only be carried out by suitably qualified vegetation management

workers and in accordance with the WorkCover (NSW) – Amenity Tree Industry

Code of Practice (1998).

Non-qualified and lay persons are not vegetation management workers. People

must not attempt to carry out vegetation management works where there is a risk

that persons, equipment or vegetation may come within 3 metres of the Electrical

Network.

In particular, landowners and occupiers are not permitted to enter property managed

or owned by Sydney Trains to assist, supervise, retrieve or carry out vegetation

management works, unless they are authorised by Sydney Trains and hold the

required Rail Safe Working qualifications.

5 The responsibilities of vegetation management workers

Sydney Trains may authorise its employees and suitably qualified contractors to

undertake vegetation management works on its behalf.

All employees and contractors carrying out vegetation management works on behalf

of Sydney Trains, where the vegetation, the workers, or the equipment are within or

have the potential to be within 3 metres of the Electrical Network will:

hold the required Rail Safe Working qualifications; and

comply with all relevant legislation, codes of practice and safety procedures,

particularly Sydney Trains Electrical Safety Rules.

All employees and contractors carrying out vegetation management works on

privately owned land on behalf of Sydney Trains will:

carry a current certificate issued under Section 61 of the ES Act; and

on request, provide that certificate to any owner or occupier of land which

they propose to enter, or have entered, in the course of carrying out works

on behalf of Sydney Trains.

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6 Vegetation clearances

6.1 Risks of not maintaining vegetation clearances

Where vegetation management works are necessary to protect the safety of people

or property, or the integrity of the Electrical Network, Sydney Trains will trim and

remove vegetation in accordance with this Plan.

This is necessary to prevent the following dangers of vegetation being near to the

Electrical Network:

Wires shorting out, burning through, and falling to the ground;

Falling branches bringing live wires to the ground;

Ignition of bushfires;

Accidental electrocution because of unauthorised access to live wires;

Electrical injury from touching vegetation in contact with powerlines, particularly

high voltage powerlines; and

Electrical injury if a boat mast or swinging crane comes too close, or touches,

overhead powerlines crossing a navigable waterway where vegetation growth

has obscured the crossing/warning signage.

6.2 Determining vegetation clearances

To mitigate the risks outlined above and to ensure the reliability of Sydney Trains'

rail network, vegetation clearances surrounding the Electrical Network are

maintained in accordance with:

T HR EL 10006 ST HV Aerial Line Maintenance Standard

SP E 70956 Sydney Trains Electricity Distribution Network Bushfire Risk

Management Plan

The Sydney Trains Electrical Network management policies and procedures present

Sydney Trains’ approach to ensuring the design, commissioning, operation and

decommissioning of its Electrical Network is safe “so far as reasonably practicable”

The vegetation in the above engineering standards consistent with the principles of

Industry Safety Steering Committee (NSW) Guideline For Managing Vegetation in

the Vicinity of Electrical Assets (2016) (ISSC3).

Many factors are considered when determining appropriate vegetation clearances.

The safety clearance for each powerline (or structure/equipment used for or in

connection with the Electrical Network) is based on, but not limited to, a

consideration of the following:

the voltage of the powerline - higher voltages generally require larger

clearances;

the location of the powerline/structure/equipment in a bush fire prone area

generally require large clearance;

the type of vegetation - fast growing vegetation may require larger clearances;

and

the length of the span between power poles – long spans require larger

clearances to accommodate for ‘swing’.

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Ultimately, safety clearances must be determined on a case by case basis having

regard to the above and other relevant factors.

7 How Sydney Trains carries out vegetation management works

7.1 Compliance with legislation

Sydney Trains will comply with all relevant legislation in carrying out works in

accordance with this Plan.

7.2 Urgent or emergency vegetation management works

Vegetation may need to be trimmed or removed under emergency conditions.

Where possible, vegetation in this category will be assessed individually to

determine the appropriate action. The land owner/occupier will be notified as soon

as practical when Sydney Trains removes vegetation under emergency conditions.

7.3 Routine and other vegetation management works

Sydney Trains may carry out vegetation management works of minimal

environmental impact on any land if it is considered necessary to ensure public

safety and the reliability of the Electrical Network and Sydney Trains rail network.

Except in the case of an emergency, Sydney Trains will, where possible, liaise with

the relevant landowner/occupier about the impending works.

Unless Sydney Trains has an easement or other entitlement to access the relevant

land, written notice will be provided to the owner before the works are carried out in

accordance with the ES Act.

7.4 Pruning techniques

The pruning techniques used by Sydney Trains follow AS 4373 (2007) - Pruning of

Amenity Trees to achieve safety clearances whilst preserving the health, safety and

visual amenity of the pruned tree.

Once the minimum safety clearance plus an allowance for regrowth is determined

for each branch, it is then trimmed at the nearest collar (or growth point) outside the

limit of clearance. Trimming to the nearest collar is a requirement under AS 4373 as

it protects trees from infection or disease and reduces the development of weakly

attached growth that can result from trimming trees mid-branch. Pruning to the

branch collars also allows some tree species to be trained away from the power

lines.

Current arboriculture techniques discourage the use of “flat-topping”. “Flat-topping”

leads to large quantities of weakly attached growth (epicormic growth) threatening

both tree health and public safety. However, in certain environmentally sensitive

areas, Sydney Trains may agree to undertake “flat-topping” at the request of the

land manager or landowner.

Unbalanced trimming of trees leaving only one side with substantial limbs does not

necessarily lead to long term instability in the tree, unless the tree is already

unstable due to factors unrelated to powerline trimming, such as root damage.

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7.5 Removal of vegetation

Vegetation may be assessed for removal in situations such as where it:

presents a risk to the safety or reliability of the Electrical Network, or

is an inappropriate species in close proximity to a powerline.

All tree removals will be assessed by a qualified arborist. The following strategies

may be used to mitigate the impact of the removal process:

Replacement with a suitable species.

For a group of trees, a staged removal, with staged replacement, is preferable

as this reduces the visual impact.

Replacement planting on the other side of the street prior to any removal.

Consultation with the community.

7.6 Treatment of saplings

Saplings, whose mature height will infringe on the clearance space or restrict access for maintenance or operational requirements, are best removed or relocated at an early stage of their growth to minimise future safety risks, cost and disruption. Methods used for the reduction of saplings and regrowth include hand cutting and treatment with herbicide, and slashing or brush cutting of exotic vegetation and grasslands.

7.7 Replacement of trees

Sydney Trains encourages the replacement of trees that are removed, provided the

trees are planted away from the Electrical Network.

Sydney Trains may negotiate the supply of replacement trees with the relevant land

manager / owner / occupier, but will generally not replace trees that have been

planted after the feeder was built. Replacement trees will usually be a small size, as

tube stock plantings generally establish and grow more efficiently and effectively

compared with semi-mature trees. Sydney Trains encourages the replacement of

trees with species that are native to the local area. This will assist in the

preservation of the local ecology.

Where Sydney Trains has deemed that it is inappropriate to re-establish trees

under the electrical easement or in close proximity to the relevant

powerline/structure/equipment on the Electrical Network, Sydney Trains will

consider an appropriate offset.

7.8 Tree stumps

Sometimes Sydney Trains' tree management works will require the removal of a

tree, leaving a tree stump. When this occurs, Sydney Trains will generally:

remove the tree \ (leaving a tree stump of approximately 30cm in height);

poison the tree stump once; and

leave the tree stump in situ.

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Generally, Sydney Trains will not remove tree stumps.

8 The responsibilities of landowners and occupiers

Sydney Trains generally discourages planting trees within 10 metres of the Electrical Network. Where Sydney Trains has the benefit of a registered easement over land, the planting of vegetation which impedes, or interferes with, Sydney Trains' rights and/or obligations under that easement is prohibited. If a landowner or occupier wishes to plant vegetation which may interfere with Sydney Trains' rights and/or obligations under an easement, Sydney Trains should be contacted first (see Section 1.6) and permission obtained. Sydney Trains asks landowners and occupiers in the vicinity of the Electrical Network to monitor the clearance space between vegetation and powerlines. The appropriate clearance space between vegetation and powerlines is generally 3 metres. Sydney Trains should be contacted (see Section 1.6) for advice if landowners /occupiers are concerned that the clearance space between vegetation and the Electrical Network may be compromised. Landowners and occupiers should follow Section 9 of this Plan when planting vegetation or carrying out landscaping works near the Electrical Network.

9 Planting guidelines

Sydney Trains recognises the value of vegetation to local communities and

encourages the planting of vegetation to enhance local landscapes. This section

offers guidelines for planting near the Electrical Network. It also provides information

on suitable and unsuitable species.

In general, when planting near the Electrical Network, Sydney Trains will use

suitable low-growing species that have a mature height of 3 meters or less.

Examples of suitable species are included at Attachment B. Other sources of

suitable species may include selecting from native groundstorey and understorey

lists from locally occurring Plant Community Type (PCT) descriptions available from

the Office of Environment and Heritage OEH website, or the local council.

Tall-growing species, such as palm trees and Eucalyptus species should be planted

away from powerlines to avoid safety problems and to enable the tree to grow to its

mature height without the need for trimming. As a general guide, species with a

mature height over 3 meters tall should be planted at least 10 meters from power

lines or at a distance equal to the mature height of the tree, whichever is greater.

The following are also important factors to consider before planting near the

Electrical Network:

How tall, wide and deep vegetation will grow and how it will impact on

overhead or underground services such as power lines, service pillars or other

electrical infrastructure.

Whether the vegetation will limit future access to the Electrical Network for

maintenance and repairs.

Whether council approval is required before planting on streets and footpaths.

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Planting species native to the local area.

Planting species that won’t invade the surrounding environment.

Dial 1100 for information on the location of cables and other underground

infrastructure before digging, particularly on footpaths and streets.

Photo 1. Inappropriate trees impacting on the electrical easement

Photo 2. showing the application of

a tree replacement programme

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ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: Electrical Network Map

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Attachment B: Species List – mixed shrub and understorey treatment up to 3.0 metres Table 1: Species List – Small Shrubs

Species List - Small Shrubs

Plants per

square metre

Suitable for

Eastern Sydney

Suitable for

Western Sydney

Suitable for Blue

Mountains

Suitable for the

Illawarra

Suitable for Central

Coast

Acacia ulicifolia 1

Allocasuarina distyla 1

Allocasuarina nana 1

Dodonea triquerta 1

Epacris longifolia 1

Exocarpos strictus 1

Grevillia buxifolia (local form) 1

Grevillia sericea 1

Hakea dactyloides 1

Hakea microcarpa 1

Hakea sericea 1

Indigofera australis 1

Lambertia formosa 1

Leptospermum juniperinum 1

Melaleuca thymifolia 1

Melaleuca squamea 1

Pulteneaea villosa 1

Westringia fruiticosa 1

Westringia longifolia 1

Banksia robur 1

Banksia oblongifolia 1

Table 2: Species List – Ground Covers

Species List - Ground Covers

Plants per

square metre

Suitable for

Eastern Sydney

Suitable for

Western Sydney

Suitable for Blue

Mountains

Suitable for The

Illawarra

Suitable for Central

Coast

Dianella sp ( local species) 4

Imperata cylindrica 4

Lomandra longifolia 4

Themeda triandra 4

Appropriate shrubs and ground story plants may also be sourced from local government or OEH lists for example: https://www.lmbc.nsw.gov.au/bamcalc/app/assets/NativeSpeciesByGrowthForm.xlsx

https://www.lmbc.nsw.gov.au/bamcalc/app/assets/NativeSpeciesByGrowthForm.xlsx

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Version Control Document Status The current status of this document is shown below.

Document Title Tree Management Plan

Version 1.1

Issue Date Issued for Public Consultation on 2 August 2018

Review Date

Approver Deputy Executive Director, Network Maintenance Division

Custodian Electrical Engineering Manager

Document Number NMD-ME-PL-139

TRIM Number FSYD2018/10471-38 DSYD2018/396982

Document History

The history of changes made to this document is shown below

Version Created Author Description

1.0 2 August 2018 Alison Sida Draft for Public Consultation

1.1 7 August 2018 Mai Mullins Approved draft issued for Public Consultation

Documents

Tree Management Plan · 2018-08-08 · management works, such as the trimming ... // 1.6 General enquiries General enquiries may be made by calling 131500. 1.7 Definition of tree