Dam storage levels continue to rise but uncertainty remains over Basslink repairs

HYDRO Tasmania’s water storages continue to rebound with autumn rains but there is still no word on what caused Basslink to break down.

Water flows from Lake Augusta in the Central Plateau. Pictures: CHRIS KIDD

HYDRO Tasmania’s water storages continue to rebound with autumn rains but there is still no word on what caused Basslink to break down and if the mid-June repair date is still realistic.

Significant rainfall across the state during the past two weeks has dam storages to 21.9 per cent capacity, a 1.9 per cent increase since last Monday and 9.1 per cent above the historic low level recorded at the end of April.

“While there is no doubt we have turned the corner on this issue over recent weeks, there continues to be a lot of work to do in managing ongoing challenges,” Energy Minister Matthew Groom said yesterday.

“We need to continue the effort to rebuild our dam storages and we need to continue to ensure energy security in the context of the ongoing outage of the Basslink cable.”

Two weeks ago Basslink said testing had found the cause of the fault which saw its interconnector cable break down on December 20.

But no announcement has been made and the repair vessel that needs to reconnect two cut ends of cable has been battling to get out in rough water.

“Basslink continues to advise that the return to service date of the cable is mid-June. However, there continues to be a risk of further delay as a consequence of adverse weather,” Mr Groom said.

Braddon MP Brett Whiteley and Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt will travel to Robbins Island off Tasmania’s far North-West today to spruik the benefits of building a second cable across Bass Strait.

Fresh plans for a $1 billion wind farm on Robbins Island will also be disclosed.

Water in storage at Lake Gordon is 9.4 per cent, an increase of 1.7 per cent over the past week. Water in storage at Great Lake has increased from 12.6 per cent to 13.9 per cent over the past week.

Water levels in Great Lake have risen 1.3 per cent in the past week.