Victoria could combat extreme heat by adding $1 billion in tree shade to suburban streets and rural towns, if an expert plan to reduce pruning around power lines is adopted.

But the state government has rejected advice from its own technical committee on clearance rules around power lines, opting instead for what it calls “a more gradual change”.

Every day, crews across the state prune and cut branches from power lines. Currently, trees in low-risk areas with low-voltage power lines are cut down one meter.

But the state’s Power Line Clearance Advisory Committee (ELCCC) recommended that in low-risk areas, branches should only be trimmed 30 centimeters.

ELCCC member Greg Moore of the University of Melbourne said reducing the amount of foliage cut would improve the state’s tree canopy and generate $1 billion in benefits, without any additional taxpayer investment.

“You get a lot more canopy coverage.” You get a lot more shade, a lot more coolness, all the important things for summer,” Dr. Moore said.

“But you will also benefit from other benefits, such as … Reduce your fuel bills because you won’t need to use your air conditioning as much.

Tackling Victoria’s urban heat islands

Dr Moore said the economic modeling was based on increased shading and cooling and came as the state grapples with more extreme heat from climate change.

Trees are key to combating urban heat islands, a problem identified by scientists where areas with lots of hard surfaces like concrete and little shade can be much hotter than surrounding areas.

Melbourne’s west is particularly vulnerable and the state government aims to plant 500,000 trees in this area, which has the lowest tree canopy in the city.

That’s why some experts are baffled by the government’s rejection of the new pruning policy.

“I am very concerned that Victoria, as a government, is sleepwalking on climate change. In an urban context, we’re losing tree cover, and we’re losing trees and through development,” Dr. Moore said.

An Energy Safe Victoria spokesperson said it had considered the proposal but believed a “more gradual change” to the clearance space was the best approach.

“So any impact on public safety and reliability of electricity supply can be assessed, before further reductions are considered,” a spokesperson said.

No decision on the proposed regulations has yet been made and will be subject to public consultation.

“As the state’s energy security regulator, our primary goal is community safety. We know that a safe and reliable electricity supply is essential for households and those on life support,” Energy Safe Victoria said in a statement.

Regional Victoria residents object to ‘butchered’ trees

Western Victorian farmer Howard Templeton got involved with the ELCCC ten years ago because he was tired of seeing trees in his home town of Coleraine cut down unnecessarily.

“I’m tired of traveling around country Victoria and seeing trees that are just cut down, they’re not pruned,” he said.

The veteran volunteer firefighter rejects any suggestion that the policy increases the risk of bushfires.

“The damage inflicted on these trees under current law weakens the trees, makes them more likely to get branches, blow away and be blown into pipes,” he said.

“If they accepted the committee’s recommendation, this would be less likely to happen.”

Shadow Energy Minister David Davis said the Government should listen to the expert panel in a bid to reduce the heat island effect.

“I am troubled by the fact that the minister and her staff have instinctively rejected what is proposed,” Mr Davis said.

“We don’t want our city to be a dry, hot place, we want it to be lush and green. After all, it is the condition of the garden, and the condition of the garden should actually protect the trees and our canopy.