Farmers eye compensation as Western Power charged over devastating Wheatbelt fires

Western Australia’s state-owned electricity provider has been charged over allegations its power lines sparked a massive bushfire in the state’s Wheatbelt.

A probe into a bushfire, which tore through 18,000 hectares of farm and bushland near Narrogin and Wickpein in February last year, has led to legal action against Western Power.

Authorities allege the fire started when Western Power’s power line conductors clashed above dry grass, igniting a fire immediately below the lines.

Building and Energy WA said the government-owned grid operator was required to ensure its network was designed, constructed and maintained to be safe.

It alleges Western Power breached electricity network safety regulations.

Its case against Western Power is set to be mentioned in Narrogin Magistrates Court on Tuesday next week.

In a statement a Western Power spokesperson said it would be inappropriate to provide information on a matter that is before the courts.

But said it was committed to ensuring the safety and reliability of its network.

Hundreds of animals die

Yilliminning farmer Troy Smith said it was a horrible day.

“It roared right through our farm,” he said.

“We had about 800 pregnant ewes that unfortunately didn’t make it.”

Mr Smith said the intense fire quickly destroyed everything in its path.

He said while he was insured, he was still out of pocket.

“The value of everything has gone up, your dollar’s not going as far,” he said.

Mr Smith said people in the Narrogin and Wickepin areas would be eagerly watching the court proceedings and and their outcome.

Lawyer Michael Maxwell, who has been speaking with a number of local farmers and other claimants seeking compensation for their losses from the fire, told ABC Perth a lot of people were suffering.

“Sometimes the scope of the uninsured losses are really substantial and are in fact higher than the insurance coverage,” he said.

Mr Maxwell said regulatory action would need to reach an outcome before any legal actions could go ahead.

Catastrophic conditions

WA was hit by strong winds and high temperatures on the weekend of the fires, with 10 districts under “catastrophic” fire warnings.

Four emergency-level fires struck regional WA.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services said two of the fires started on overhead power lines.

In April 2022, acting asset operations executive Zane Christmas said Western Power’s regional powerlines were appropriately maintained with over $200 million of bushfire mitigation work completed annually.

He told the ABC that the electricity provider used a combination of inspections, vegetation cutting to identify defects and reduce risk prior to each bushfire season.