Ivan Dean, Speeches Index

Thursday 13 July 2006

LAKE MARGARET POWER STATION CLOSURE

Mr DEAN (Windermere ) - Mr President, I also rise in support of this urgency motion. My contribution will be short. The member for Murchison has covered it quite well and was able to provide the detail that was necessary in support of her motion.

During the Estimates process I raised a question on the very unique position of this power station, the Lake Margaret Power Station, and I was advised in that answer that the power station in the scheme of things was a small player. That might be so but it has a strategic position on the west coast, particularly for the supply of power to some of the industry there.

I was not told that the station has the capacity to supply Copper Mines of Tasmania, Mr President, alone. In actual fact, and I think the member for Murchison raised the issue that, recently there was a power failure on the west coast where this power station alone was able to continue the supply of electricity that was needed by Copper Mines of Tasmania. Copper Mines of Tasmania, it needs to be known, is reliant on a continuous power supply because it has a lot to do with the pumping of water from certain shafts and areas from within that mine. It would have been possible, according to my advice, for that mine to have been flooded had there not been a power supply or a position that was able to provide the power necessary to keep those mines clean and clear. So, there is an example, Mr President, of the importance of the Lake Margaret Power Station. I do not know what the position will be should it close; I suppose it would be reliant on generators or some other form of electricity - I do not know what that would mean or would be - but that is a matter, obviously, that is of some significance.

It is a unique station. It is a station that should be preserved, in my opinion, and supported into the future. I have worked on the west coast - I was there for two years. It is a significant attraction on the west coast; it is a wonderful power station when one looks at it and you can admire the structure of the pipeline - and I think that is another good reason for keeping that power station. I guess some of you would have listened to the mayor of Queenstown recently, Darryl Gerrity -

Mrs Rattray-Wagner - Every week we listen to him on the radio.

Mr DEAN - Every week you listen to Darryl. Well, Darryl was quite agitated, quite worked up recently, when on the ABC program he was talking about his Lake Margaret Power Station. I do not want to misquote the mayor but I think he said something like it was akin to a criminal act to close that power station. He also was satisfied that there had not been enough work done before coming to the hasty decision that has now been made.

We know that the power station is in need of maintenance and we know that the pipeline does have leaks - a number of leaks - in it. We know that the structure is wooden but if it has been allowed to run down for such a long period of time I guess you have to question Hydro Tasmania as to why they would allow that to occur. If the maintenance had been carried out when necessary, the maintenance now required would not have been necessary; it could have been done as the need arose. Obviously Hydro Tasmania have had it in their mind for a long time that they were going to close and get out of the Lake Margaret Power Station. It does raise a number of interesting things.

I cannot be satisfied at this stage that the right processes have occurred. I do not think that it has been fairly considered. I do not think that they have taken into account all of the factors that I can see as to why it should be open; that is, the historic value - and the member for Murchison referred to these much better than I will be able to - it is an iconic station, it is an attraction on the west coast, tourists do attend and look at that station. I do not know what the visitor numbers would be but when I was there it certainly had quite a number of people just going there to look at the site. It is a wonderful site, it is a wonderful station and in my view there is every reason at this stage the power station should be preserved. I give strong support to the member for Murchison in this urgency motion, Mr President.

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