❓ Hon. Norman Moore questions the Minister for Kimberley, Pilbara and Gascoyne about the decision to demolish the Wittenoom power station, given some residents' unwillingness to leave voluntarily. The Minister defends the decision citing safety concerns and lack of technical expertise.
AnsweredQoN 478Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WITTENOOM - WITHDRAWAL OF POWER SUPPLIES
I refer to the minister’s answer earlier today to the question concerning Wittenoom. The minister advised that the government’s policy is to work with permanent residents for them to leave Wittenoom voluntarily. As several residents have no intention of leaving voluntarily, and as it seems that the minister has no authority to forcibly remove them, will the minister seek to reverse the government’s decision to demolish the power station at the end of this month; and, if he will not, why not? Hon JON FORD
I refer to the minister’s answer earlier today to the question concerning Wittenoom. The minister advised that the government’s policy is to work with permanent residents for them to leave Wittenoom voluntarily. As several residents have no intention of leaving voluntarily, and as it seems that the minister has no authority to forcibly remove them, will the minister seek to reverse the government’s decision to demolish the power station at the end of this month; and, if he will not, why not? Hon JON FORD
AnswerView source ↗
No. There are a couple of reasons. As I said before in responding to another question, the technical expertise needed to maintain a reasonably high-voltage power system is beyond the capacity of the people of that town site. There have been a number of incidents of fires due to jerry-rigging and inappropriate cable laying and people being invited to stay in premises. There is also a duty of care for an agency or any other employer if workers are required to go to the town and be exposed to contamination in the normal course of their work. That policy has been adopted by the Shire of Ashburton. It has an obligation under the Local Government Act to provide certain services but it also has a policy to not allow its workers to go to that site. I support that policy. That is why I will not encourage other employers to allow their workers to go there.
Hon JON FORD replied: No. There are a couple of reasons. As I said before in responding to another question, the technical expertise needed to maintain a reasonably high-voltage power system is beyond the capacity of the people of that town site. There have been a number of incidents of fires due to jerry-rigging and inappropriate cable laying and people being invited to stay in premises. There is also a duty of care for an agency or any other employer if workers are required to go to the town and be exposed to contamination in the normal course of their work. That policy has been adopted by the Shire of Ashburton. It has an obligation under the Local Government Act to provide certain services but it also has a policy to not allow its workers to go to that site. I support that policy. That is why I will not encourage other employers to allow their workers to go there.
No. There are a couple of reasons. As I said before in responding to another question, the technical expertise needed to maintain a reasonably high-voltage power system is beyond the capacity of the people of that town site. There have been a number of incidents of fires due to jerry-rigging and inappropriate cable laying and people being invited to stay in premises. There is also a duty of care for an agency or any other employer if workers are required to go to the town and be exposed to contamination in the normal course of their work. That policy has been adopted by the Shire of Ashburton. It has an obligation under the Local Government Act to provide certain services but it also has a policy to not allow its workers to go to that site. I support that policy. That is why I will not encourage other employers to allow their workers to go there.
Hon JON FORD replied: No. There are a couple of reasons. As I said before in responding to another question, the technical expertise needed to maintain a reasonably high-voltage power system is beyond the capacity of the people of that town site. There have been a number of incidents of fires due to jerry-rigging and inappropriate cable laying and people being invited to stay in premises. There is also a duty of care for an agency or any other employer if workers are required to go to the town and be exposed to contamination in the normal course of their work. That policy has been adopted by the Shire of Ashburton. It has an obligation under the Local Government Act to provide certain services but it also has a policy to not allow its workers to go to that site. I support that policy. That is why I will not encourage other employers to allow their workers to go there.
No. There are a couple of reasons. As I said before in responding to another question, the technical expertise needed to maintain a reasonably high-voltage power system is beyond the capacity of the people of that town site. There have been a number of incidents of fires due to jerry-rigging and inappropriate cable laying and people being invited to stay in premises. There is also a duty of care for an agency or any other employer if workers are required to go to the town and be exposed to contamination in the normal course of their work. That policy has been adopted by the Shire of Ashburton. It has an obligation under the Local Government Act to provide certain services but it also has a policy to not allow its workers to go to that site. I support that policy. That is why I will not encourage other employers to allow their workers to go there.
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