By Tyler Wright
A Selby family say they had to move out of their rental due to the disruption being caused by an Ausnet construction next door to their home.
Ella Hamilton lived in the Belgrave-Gembrook Road property for two years before she says their daily life was affected by the construction of a Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiter (REFCL).
REFCL are structures designed to protect high bushfire risk communities from bushfire; limiting the amount of energy released when an earth fault occurs, including a fallen tree or wildlife touching the pole and powerline at the same time.
Preliminary work began in February 2022, with the site expected to house two prefabricated buildings, each one about the size of a 20-foot shipping container.
One building will enclose the isolation transformer, the other electronic equipment that enables the REFCL to operate.
Ms Hamilton said the works over this time have caused her family too much stress and ultimately forced them to make the decision to move out of the home and in with family interstate.
“They had all sorts of machinery coming in and out,” Ms Hamilton said.
“They had a generator out the front that was so loud…We were constantly having to negotiate getting out of our driveway…the fence was down for a week, so we had zero privacy.”
Unable to cope and unable to find a rental in the Dandenong Ranges, Ms Hamilton and her partner Edryan decided to move in with family in Brisbane with their infant daughter in January 2023.
“We have spent over $10,000 moving up here to get away from it…It’s just devastating, nobody wants to have to go through that.”
“Now we’re in limbo because we don’t have anywhere to go…
“We want to be in our community… we had the preschool where we wanted to send our daughter, we had the school where we wanted to send her five minutes from where we lived.”
A landowner told the Star Mail they expect the value of their property to be lowered due to construction.
“It’s four doors away from the general store. It’s prime real estate location; people drive through Selby now; that is what they’re going to remember that Selby is,” the landowner said.
“Real estate agents have said people move to the hill for a tree change and for the scenery and for the wildlife.
“Who’s going to want to live next to that?”
An Ausnet spokesperson told the Star Mail the company has been “working on the planning and installation of bushfire mitigation technology in the Belgrave area” and the system has protected “over 12,000 residents over the summer”.
“In 2021 we identified the need for a REFCL system to be built at Selby to better protect the area. We have been keeping neighbouring residents informed about our activities at the Selby site since August 2021,” the spokeperson said.
“AusNet has complied with all applicable statutory planning and environmental requirements and laws, including the removal of asbestos, and will continue to do so.”
The spokesperson said Ausnet is currently working to address noise from the site, and has engaged an independent consultant to undertake an acoustic study to ensure that emitted noise meets allowable levels as set by the Environment Protection Authority.
“We will undertake remedial actions if needed.
“Security cameras do not overlook properties, and lighting has been turned off until cowling can be installed to prevent it affecting neighbours.”
Ausnet is also working on screening and vegetation planting around the site to improve visual aesthetics, the spokesperson said.
“We apologise for the inconvenience caused during construction.”
Yarra Ranges Council’s Director of Planning and Sustainable Futures Kath McClusky said no planning permit was required from the council for the facility.
“One of the recommendations from the Bushfire Royal Commission was that electricity suppliers should install REFCL technology across the network to better protect residents from bushfires that are started by powerline faults and failures. This recommendation was then mandated by the State Government,” Ms McClusky said.
Ms McClusky said the council is aware of concerns in the community and sympathise with their frustrations and concerns regardining the proposal, however the council has “no authority to influence or change the outcome”.
“We encourage community members to reach out directly to AusNet if they have concerns about the project,” she said.
“No planning permit is required for the demolition of the buildings on the site or to install a Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiter, which is classed as a “Minor Utility Installation,” therefore Council did not have an opportunity to respond to either the proposal or the design.”
