A STANDOFF between Victoria's councils and the state's energy standards watchdog over tough new laws on tree clearing around power lines has been defused.
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The Municipal Association of Victoria, which several months ago urged councils not to comply with tree audits, has eased its stance and is working on a new more flexibility system with Energy Safe Victoria.
"I'm hopeful we'll get a reasonable outcome," MAV chief executive Rob Spence told The Standard.
"We are piloting a model of risk assessment for each council rather than a one size fits all approach.
"It hopefully will give councils more flexibility rather than a set of rules that apply 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
"A working party in conjunction with Energy Safe Victoria is working through the issue. Our relationship with ESC is good now since the initial skirmish."
The MAV has advised councils to continue to meet their clearance obligations to at least the previous 2005 regulations.
"It is critical they manage their electricity line clearance appropriately," the association's president Cr Bill McArthur said.
Warrnambool City Council this week was told under the new ESV regulations the number of trees to be trimmed would leap from 350 to 900 and the cost would double to $120,000.
Some trees, including Norfolk Island pines, may need to be removed to comply, unless power lines were bundled or placed underground, the council heard.
Several councillors said the stringent new laws seemed to be a knee-jerk response to the Black Saturday inquiry and lumped low-risk areas with high-risk forest settlements.
It prompted calls for a widespread review of tree species planted on Warrnambool streets.
Cr Peter Hulin singled out Morton Bay figs on Koroit Street and CBD plane trees as examples of inappropriate species.
Corangamite Shire Council has estimated its costs in Camperdown would rise from $10,800 to $15,000.
pcollins@standard.fairfax.com.au
