00:00One street, two trees and two different methods to pruning.
00:07This tree has been trimmed back from the power lines under current rules, and this one has
00:11been cut more delicately, less has been pruned and it could bring big benefits.
00:16You get much greater canopy cover, you get much greater shade, much greater cooling.
00:22Dr Greg Moore is part of Victoria's expert panel on electricity line clearing.
00:27The group told government to reduce the length of branch cut from one metre to 30 centimetres
00:32on low risk power lines in suburban streets and country towns.
00:36It will help tackle extreme urban heat.
00:39You'll get lower fuel bills because you won't have to use your air conditioning so much.
00:43Victoria will get about a billion dollars worth of benefit at no cost to any taxpayer
00:48in the state.
00:49Energy Safe Victoria has so far rejected the plan.
00:52It's opting for a more gradual change to regulation so it can monitor the impacts on energy reliability
00:58as well as safety.
00:59Safety is really important.
01:01Trees too close to power lines start fires, they can be deadly.
01:04Howard Templeton got involved on the expert panel a decade ago after becoming increasingly
01:09frustrated with tree pruning in cold rain.
01:12The veteran firefighter, he rejects any suggestion the plan would be dangerous.
01:16But it's about the damage that's inflicted on those trees.
01:19Under the current legislation it actually weakens the trees, makes them more likely
01:24to have branches blow off and blow into the line.
01:29The opposition is urging a rethink.
01:31We don't want our city to be a barren, hot place.
01:35We want it to be lush and green.
01:39This is the garden state after all.
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