❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses power outages in the Pilbara caused by cockatoos damaging power lines. The response outlines existing maintenance plans, the Pilbara Underground Power Project, and the lack of immediate plans for culling.
AnsweredQoN 4098Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What measures have been taken by the Minister to help protect power lines against damage from the destructive beaks of the flocks of cockatoos that are feeding on power lines in many locations across the Pilbara and causing power blackouts?
(2) If the Minister is not able to secure better insulation to protect government assets, will he secure the appropriate approvals and put in place the appropriate program to cull some of these birds?
(2) If the Minister is not able to secure better insulation to protect government assets, will he secure the appropriate approvals and put in place the appropriate program to cull some of these birds?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 November 2010
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Energy
Response time
28 days
(1) The current problem with the cockatoos causing power outages occurs when the birds take flight and clash with conductors, causing protective devices to shut down power supplies.
The frequency of power outages caused by the cockatoo population in the Pilbara has been reported to the Town of Port Hedland by local Horizon Power management and discussions are actively taking place to find a solution that will ensure future power supply interruptions are minimised. The Pilbara Underground Power Project will assist with this problem.
Horizon Power has a maintenance plan in place to ensure regular repairs and upgrades are made to essential power assets, including power lines. In addition, Horizon Power records the number of faults for each town and the cause of each individual fault upon investigation to identify reoccurring power issues and to ensure future maintenance plans include measures to ensure a reliable and safe power supply to the community.
(2) Insulating power lines is not standard practice in regional areas due to the cost involved. The undergrounding of power lines as part of the Pilbara Underground Power Project will assist with this problem.
Horizon Power has no immediate plans to apply to the Department of Environment and Conservation for approvals to cull the cockatoo flocks.
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The frequency of power outages caused by the cockatoo population in the Pilbara has been reported to the Town of Port Hedland by local Horizon Power management and discussions are actively taking place to find a solution that will ensure future power supply interruptions are minimised. The Pilbara Underground Power Project will assist with this problem.
Horizon Power has a maintenance plan in place to ensure regular repairs and upgrades are made to essential power assets, including power lines. In addition, Horizon Power records the number of faults for each town and the cause of each individual fault upon investigation to identify reoccurring power issues and to ensure future maintenance plans include measures to ensure a reliable and safe power supply to the community.
(2) Insulating power lines is not standard practice in regional areas due to the cost involved. The undergrounding of power lines as part of the Pilbara Underground Power Project will assist with this problem.
Horizon Power has no immediate plans to apply to the Department of Environment and Conservation for approvals to cull the cockatoo flocks.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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