Praise for protectors of vital infrastructure
FIREFIGHTERS and TasNetworks have been praised for a remarkable job minimising the impact on the state’s power network during the bushfire crisis.
About 100 power poles have been damaged so far, despite several large blazes burning through almost three per cent of the state.
TasNetworks spokesman Josh Bradshaw said only a small number of customers had suffered outages due to the downed poles and wires.
He said their transmission assets across the state had pproved resilient throughout ththe bushfire threat.
Mr Bradshaw said the prottection of critical assets included proactive vegetation clearing and targeted firefighting activities such as laying retardant ahead of the fire front, while crews also de-energised powerlines when requested to allow firefighters to work safely.
“We have worked with emergency services, particularly the Tasmania Fire Service, to identify critical infrastructure that warranted protection and have actively managed these assets to maintain their safe operation,” he said.
That critical infrastructure list includes sewerage treatment plants at Rosebery, May- dena, Arthurs Lake, Geeveston and Zeehan, Lake Echo and John Butters power stations, Southwood mill, Reece Hydro Dam and Waddamana substation.
“Contingencies were in place to provide enough reserve should any large transmission assets been impacted.”
He said crews on the West Coast, in the Huon Valley and Central Highlands had been working hard to repair damaged infrastructure as soon as fire authorities had indicated it was safe to do so.
State Energy Minister Guy Barnett praised the efforts of all involved in keeping Tasmania’s lights on.
“I am very proud of the hard work and dedication TasNetworks has shown throughout this fire emergency working hand-in-hand with emergency services, the TFS and Hydro Tasmania,” he said.
“So far there has been minimal disruption to networks across the state, despite the fire emergency and the tough conditions our crews are facing.”
TFS station officer Darren Gye said TasNetworks, the National Broadband Network and telco companies put in a lot of effort before a bushfire event to prepare their sites.
“When we come along it’s just a matter of attacking the fire at front or flank,” he said.