Power fight over Alice Springs stations
THE Electrical Trades Union will commence legal action to ensure there is proper consultation regarding the eventual closure of the Ron Goodin Power Station in Alice Springs.
Territory Generation announced the Alice Springs Power Station will transition to a standby station from December this year, with the station to be decommissioned from mid next year.
The ETU has warned the government the decision to reduce staff by 66 per cent at the Ron Goodin station will lead to increased power outages in the region and safety issues for workers forced to operate single person 66,000 volt switching. ETU Queensland and NT organiser David “Strawbs” Hayes said the decision was an attack on ETU members’ safety and livelihoods.
“This will mean two thirds of the workforce will no longer be able to support their families, as there are simply no jobs in Alice Springs for these people to go to,” he said.
He called for the govern- ment to withdraw the proposal for the power station’s closure and conduct an immediate review of the impact of the decision on the region.
But Territory Generation boss Tim Duignan said the company did not operate 66,000 volt networks.
“We would never compromise on safety.”
Mr Duignan said the final move to Owen Springs Power Station at the end of this year would provide safer and more reliable power to the Alice Springs network.
The old Ron Goodin Power Station, which is about 50 years old, will be decommissioned from July, 2018.