Issue Date: -
Monday, 9 July 2007
Investigation reports on wildfires delayed
Information on the detailed investigation into clashing powerlines and a subsequent fire at Toodyay will be released late this month and information about a similar incident at Parryville is now anticipated to be released in late August.
The Report on the Toodyay investigation undertaken by Western Power was expected to be made available by late June, but energy industry regulator EnergySafety agreed to an extension of time.
EnergySafety released its own Electrical Incident Reports into the two fires during February and March 2007, concluding that the fires were each caused by the clashing of a phase conductor and the underslung earth conductor of the Western Power owned and operated 22,000-volt overhead powerlines.
Director of Energy Safety Albert Koenig said today he had agreed to extensions of time in order to ensure that Western Power's investigations will be as thorough as possible.
"Western Power and its engineering consultants are trying to determine to what extent the design, construction and maintenance of powerlines in the two locations have common factors that cause clashing, or whether the clashing is the result of other local factors," Mr Koenig said.
"Our earlier investigation did not establish a clear root cause of the conductor clashing, and following the Toodyay fire we asked Western Power to investigate a representative sample of line construction types in that area.
"Western Power agreed, and engaged engineering consultants to assist in assessing whether the powerlines in the area meet the engineering standards of the 1960s – when they were constructed – and whether they meet today’s standards.
"After the Parryville fire, EnergySafety agreed that Western Power would also investigate this incident and provide a separate engineering assessment Report.
"We initially expected the results of the investigations to be available earlier, but Western Power and its consultants requested additional time for completion of the work, and I have agreed to the revised completion times.
"I appreciate that there is significant community interest in the outcomes of the investigations and that a delay will be disappointing for some people who were affected by the fires, but it is essential that the work is done thoroughly."