Praise for keeping Tasmania’s lights on during bushfire drama

Firefighters and TasNetworks have been praised for a remarkable job minimising the impact on the state’s power network during the bushfire crisis.

Emergency workers have been praised for keeping Tasmania’s power network operating during the bushfire disaster. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

FIREFIGHTERS and TasNetworks crews have been praised for a remarkable job minimising the impact on the state’s power network during the bushfire crisis.

As few as 100 power poles have been damaged so far, despite several large blazes burning through almost 3 per cent of the state.

TasNetworks spokesman Josh Bradshaw said only a small number of customers had suffered outages due to downed poles and wires.

He said power transmission networks across the state had proved resilient throughout the bushfire threat.

Mr Bradshaw said the protection of critical assets included vegetation clearing and targeted firefighting activities such as laying retardant ahead of the fire front, with crews also cutting electrical supply to powerlines when requested to allow firefighters to work safely.

“We have worked with emergency services, particularly the Tasmania Fire Service, to identify critical infrastructure that warranted protection and have actively managed these assets to maintain their safe operation,” he said.

Power lines being repaired at Lake Augusta Rd in the Central Highlands. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

That critical infrastructure list included sewerage treatment plants at Rosebery, Maydena, Arthurs Lake, Geeveston and Zeehan; the Lake Echo and John Butters power stations; Southwood mill; Reece Hydro dam; and Waddamana substation.

“Our electricity network is very resilient,” Mr Bradshaw said. “Contingencies were in place to provide enough reserve should any large transmission assets been impacted.”

He said crews on the West Coast, in the Huon Valley and Central Highlands had been working hard to repair damaged infrastructure as soon as fire authorities had indicated it was safe to do so.

Tasmania Fire Service crews working on Arve Rd near Geeveston. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Energy Minister Guy Barnett praised the efforts of all involved in keeping Tasmania’s lights on.

“I am very proud of the hard work and dedication TasNetworks has shown throughout this fire emergency working hand-in-hand with emergency services, the TFS and Hydro Tasmania,” he said.

“So far there has been minimal disruption to networks across the state, despite the fire emergency and the tough conditions our crews are facing.”

TFS station officer Darren Gye said TasNetworks, the National Broadband Network and telecommunications companies put in a lot of effort before a bushfire event to prepare their sites.

“When we come along it’s just a matter of attacking the fire at front or flank,” he said. “If you do the work before it gets bad, it makes our job easier.”

He said the same rule applied for preparing homes prior a major fire.

Mr Gye said the threat around Waddamana substation, which was basically swallowed by the Great Pine Tier blaze, but emerged unscathed, had eased and had been back at full capacity for more than a week.

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