Aurora Energy and Transend Networks have joined with the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers
Association (TFGA) in urging farmers to take particular care when setting up and moving irrigation
equipment around near overhead powerlines.

The reminder follows two recent instances where travelling irrigators have become entangled in
powerlines and brought the lines down, and one incident where a powerline had to be replaced due
to damage caused by water sprayed from an irrigator.

TFGA Chief Executive Officer, Jan Davis, said these types of incidents could easily have resulted in
death or serious injury for the farmers operating the equipment.

“Farmers need to obey clearance rules when working and irrigating near powerlines,” Ms Davis said.
“Every time a farmer is working near powerlines there is a risk of at best a power outage disrupting
the neighbourhood, or at worst, a fatality. There is no room for complacency when it comes to
electricity.”

Aurora Energy Chief Operations Officer – Distribution Business Warren Batchelor said Aurora and
Transend were very concerned that the message the two companies have delivered to the farming
community over many years via an annual television, radio and press advertising campaign
coinciding with irrigation season – Look Up Look Out – doesn’t seem to be getting through.

“It is absolutely essential that people and equipment are kept at least three metres away from any
overhead powerline, to remove the very real risk of electrocution and electric shock, and also
prevent bushfires caused by fallen powerlines and power interruptions,” he said.

“When a travelling irrigator is set up too close to a powerline, the jets of water cause momentary
power interruptions to surrounding properties, which impacts on their homes and businesses and
ties up Aurora resources, often out of hours.

Aurora, Transend and the TFGA urge members of the public to report any sighting of unsafe
irrigation practices to Aurora on its 24-hour emergency Fault Centre number 13 2004.

“We can all play a part in keeping the Tasmanian community safe from the risks of electrocution and
bushfire and avoidable power interruptions,” Ms Davis and Mr Batchelor said.
Aurora Public Relations