Electric and magnetic fields, commonly known as EMFs, are both naturally occurring and found wherever there is electricity. Natural occurrences include lightning, solar activity and the earth itself. All living organisms produce EMFs. Wherever electricity is flowing or there is an electrical force, EMFs are produced.

There are no significant health risks to those living close to high voltage transmission lines (500kV or 200kV).

After a multitude of studies on the concerns and potential health impacts on individuals, the Australian Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety Advisory (ARPANSA) has said there is no scientific evidence to establish that exposure to electromagnetic fields around the home, the office or near power lines causes health effects. The levels emitted by high voltage transmission lines are well below the public exposure limit of 2,000 mG recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), which released an international standard in 2010.

Despite this, a precautionary approach will be applied to managing electromagnetic fields, including targeting minimum setbacks from residences and monitoring power lines for electromagnetic field intensity.

Studies suggest that EMF’s do not have any visible effects on livestock such as pigs, sheep, cows and horses. Powerlink, a transmission operator in Queensland with over 50 years of experience, has studied the impact of high-voltage transmission lines on crops and livestock, and found no adverse effects on productivity. (Powerlink, VicGrid).

Transmission lines rarely interfere with GPS systems, although minor issues may occur in close proximity to the towers. During rain, some advanced GPS systems might experience interference, due to radio signals emitted by the transmission lines. Smart farming technologies that might experience minimal effects from EMFs include soil sensors and radio transmitters, but only if they are very close to the towers. Additionally, if there is a fault in the transmission line, there may be brief disruptions to these technologies.