New age power launch

By Simon Forbes

USING a hand held walkie talkie to issue the words Go Bob, go, NSW Premier Morris Iemma last Friday, launched the major construction phase of the States newest power station a $350 million gas-fired plant in the Illawarra.

At the Premiers command, a large backhoe swung into action, symbolically turning the first sod on the site where the new power station is to be built.

In a special ceremony to celebrate the future plant, Mr Iemma said the project was a great new direction for the people of Illawarra and for NSW.

The construction works mark the start of a new power station that will generate enough electricity to supply 200,000 homes and businesses across NSW once complete, he said.

It will also be one of Australias most environmentally efficient power stations, producing up to 70 percent less greenhouse gas emissions than some existing coal-fired power stations.

Mr Iemma said the new power station, being built by Tru Energy and Alstom on the shores of Lake Illawarra, at the site of the old Tallawarra power station, would play a vital role in the States future power supply.

Minister for the Illawarra, David Campbell said the project will also generate up to 400 jobs during construction and up to 30 permanent jobs at the plant once its up and running.

Fridays construction launch builds on a landmark agreement signed the previous day with BlueScope Steel that will allow the company to commence work on plans to slash greenhouse gas emissions in NSW by recycling the waste gases from steelmaking in the Illawarra for use in electricity production, through the construction of a multi-million dollar co-generation plant at the steelworks.

Energy Minister Joe Tripodi, who also attended the launch ceremonies said the new 400-megawatt Tallawarra Power Station would be on-line in time for summer 2008/09.

Tallawarra will not only feed into the electricity network when extra power is needed, but it will create hundreds of jobs during construction, Mr Tripodi said.

When the work is complete, up to 30 local people will work here full-time, while the community will have access to vast open space on the shore of Lake Illawarra.

Member for Illawarra Marianne Saliba said the project showed how good planning could bring positive outcomes for industry and the community.

Not only will we soon have a new, state-of-the-art power station, but the community will have access to most of the 600-hectare site, she said.

The new power station will only take up 18 hectares of the site, and I understand Wollongong City Council has rezoned the remaining land for tourism, employment and public open space.

Once construction of the power station is completed, the site will also incorporate a childrens playground, a picnic area and wetlands areas for native wildlife.