In general, overhead lines are inspected once a year via air or land. Easements must be kept clear of vegetation that would pose a risk to the transmission lines. This clearing often also acts as a firebreak. Easements are more common than many people realise and are routinely used for a range of essential infrastructure and services, including water pipelines, sewerage, gas pipelines and telecommunications networks.
Transmission line operators may conduct annual pre-summer vegetation maintenance to protect the transmission lines from the risk of bushfires.
Landholders maintain possession and use of the easement, subject to the terms of the easement agreement. Landholders also maintain responsibility for the general maintenance of the land within the easement.
However, the transmission line operator is responsible for the maintenance of any electrical infrastructure, including access roads within the easement.
