Alinta Energy power stations at Port Augusta shut down

IT will be the end of an era for Gary Rowbottom and his colleagues today as the Port Augusta power stations are shut down.

Repower Port Augusta chairman, and former 17-year Alinta Energy power station employee Gary Rowbottom. Picture: Roger Wyman

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IT will be the end of an era for Gary Rowbottom and his colleagues today as the Port Augusta power stations are shut down.

Owned by Alinta Energy, the regional town’s coal­-fired power stations have come to an end after it was announced in July 2015 that plant’s operations would cease and more than 180 workers would lose their jobs.

Mr Rowbottom, 54, who has worked at the facility for 17 years, conceded it’s an end of an era for the town and his family in particular, who have had three generations step foot in its doors.

“It’s quite sad and nostalgic,” he said.

“My father worked there for a number of years and for a short time, my son as well, so it’s a generational thing for us.

“There were 185 employees when it was announced and that’s down to 140. Many of them have left town with their families and the others are looking for work. The redundancy payments have been a good buffer but we don’t know how long that will have to last for.”

Since 2012, the community has campaigned for a concentrated solar thermal plant with

storage to be built in Port Augusta to create jobs and transition away from

coal. The community’s campaign has led to US solar thermal company SolarReserve, who

operate a facility in Nevada, to propose building a solar thermal plant with storage north of Port Augusta.

Both sides of federal politics have mentioned Port Augusta in its discussions surrounding solar energy funding.

Mr Rowbottom says it’s the industry that can save the town.

“That’s the next big thing for the town — that Port Augusta becomes a renewable energy hub,” he said.

“We’re very anxiously awaiting the outcome — it needs some federal funding and both sides of government have shown interest — that’s a good thing ... I’ve seen this go through four PMs and there may be a fifth now.

“We really want this town to forge itself as a place in the age of renewable energy. “

Port Augusta Mayor Sam Johnson said that now an election had been called, it was time for both major parties to “put their money where their mouth is”.

“It’s a sad day to see the end of this,” he said.

“It’s no secret that the Upper Spencer Gulf wants to transform into a renewable resource centre.

“We are now in election mode and we ask that the governments put their money where their mouth is ... the time has come.”

The Advertiser attempted to contact Alinta Energy.