Federated Farmers: Line access, who you gonna call?

A valuable service available to Federated Farmers members is the 0800 advice line -a solid source of guidance on policy, advocacy and the raft of regulations affecting the modern farm.

A perennial advice line topic is the challenge faced by farmers with electricity transmission and distribution lines crossing their land.

These lines, and their poles or towers, need to be maintained and upgraded over time, and requests for access can be a particular reason to call our service.

Access for maintenance work can be a complex and difficult issue for the landowner concerned.

The timing of entry is critical on a busy farm, with projects potentially disrupted by the presence of work crews, along with animal welfare concerns.

There may be additional worries about the condition of the terrain or tracks that work crews want to cross to get to the lines, as well as their capacity to handle the vehicles involved.

On top of all that there can be questions about health and safety, or worries about line locations that become more inconvenient over time as farms are developed.

Federated Farmers has travelled many miles supporting landowners in such situations. Electricity companies do have a statutory right of access to private land where their lines are situated.

This is limited to maintenance activities and minor upgrades. Landowners also have rights designed to help them manage the process.

Federated Farmers sees to it that information is available by way of advisors and fact sheets, so that members can exercise those rights to the maximum.

To gain access to private land, other than in emergencies, power line owners are required to provide notice in writing at least 10 working days in advance.

That written notice must include the proposed access point, the reasons for the visit and the nature of the work on the line, the date and time of entry, and the expected duration of the work.

The Federation has assisted an umber of farmers enforce this, along with their right to set reasonable conditions on the timing of entry and possibly delay it for up to 15 working days.

There is also scope to set conditions on the access route. Landowners are also not responsible for maintaining access tracks so that work crews can get to the lines.

Track condition is often a major concern when the ground is wet and is something that needs to be carefully worked through with the company or their contractor - in order to minimise risk and damage to paddocks.

In one case we got a lines company to commit to carrying their equipment onto the farm by hand, evidence that landowners can be in a strong position when the cards are played right.

These requirements offer valuable leverage for landowners to reduce the inconvenience of third party access and its impact on the farm business.

The grounds for delay can incorporate any major farm activity potentially disrupted.

It can be the case that farmers have allowed access for maintenance work informally over the years on the basis of a phone call or note, and have never been informed of these rules.

They find out when they call the Federation.

With the spring season here, maintenance activity on electricity transmission and distribution lines will increase.

If you have them on your farm, call Federated Farmers and get the facts on your