It is meant to protect us from the threat of bushfire and safeguard our electricity supplies, but vegetation clearance under powerlines has again sparked anger among Hills residents.

Alan Matthews has labelled the pruning of this tree at the entrance to his Hahndorf property “ridiculous”.

ETSA Utilities contractors working in the region this month have come under attack from landowners and locals who say they are heavy-handed in their work.
But the power network provider has defended the trimming, saying it is only doing what is required by law in bushfire risk areas.
Hahndorf resident Jeff Bettcher hit out at ETSA Utilities this week after historic trees at the entrance to his town were pruned without consultation with the Mt Barker Council.
“These are heritage trees that should be looked at and considered carefully,” he said.

For the full report, see the print issue of The Courier.