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Volume 5, Wednesday April 1st, 2009
BHPB talks over Andamooka power supply
The Andamooka Powerhouse runs on natural gas.
Electricity from the SA grid could be on its way to Andamooka.
A
BHP Billiton spokeswoman has confirmed that the company is currently in high level talks with the South Australian Government over the feasibility of bringing grid power in from Roxby Downs. The managing director of the Andamooka Power House, Chris Lyons said the introduction of grid power into Andamooka was not only a good idea but probably inevitable for the continued growth of the town. Mr Lyons said he was not party to any talks going on in Adelaide but as his company owned the poles and wires and held a licence to generate, distribute and retail electricity within Andamooka, he obviously had more than a passing interest in any negotiations about future power supplies in the town. The Andamooka Power House began as an electricity retailer when Chris Lyons’ father
owned a shop in the town back in the 1960’s. The family bought a generator with excess capacity and pretty soon a few neighbours had agreed to buy their power. Over the years they supplied all their friends and relations and kept adding to capacity, invested in distribution and fifty years on they own the entire generation and distribution infrastructure in Andamooka. Mr Lyons said the SA Government Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure (DTEI) had carried out a “back of the envelope” study about five years ago and at that time Western Mining had told them that supply into Andamooka was constrained by lack of capacity in a sub-station. Contrary to local hearsay the local powerhouse burns gas which it acquires from Port Bonython and has done so since 2000 so as to avoid the regular diesel price hikes. Mr Lyons confirmed that electricity con-
sumers were charged an average of $10,000 to connect to the Andamooka supply. “When you buy a block of land at Copper Sands in Roxby – or one in Adelaide – the cost of the electricity supply to that point – along with the other infrastructure like water and gas - has been included in the price of the block – which he suggested was at least $30,000. Mr Lyons said that he was looking forward to the time when Andamooka residents could get access to regular town services city people took for granted – reticulated water instead of water delivered by truck – garbage collection instead of burning it in the town dump and a formal council to ensure such amenities could be financed and maintained. “With no council, there can be no contribution into basic services like electricity which are heavily subsidised by government in towns with a formal local government structure,” Mr Lyons said.
Olympic Dam expansion review extended
T
he Rann Government has decided to extend the public consultation period for the environmental impact statement (eis) for the expansion of BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam project from eight to 14 weeks. The Government’s move came in the wake of serious opposition from Greens MLC Mark Parnell and Liberal Mining Opposition leader, David Ridgway. The eis contains more than 4000 pages – making it easily the largest document ever produced in the state. Liberal leading light, David Ridgway said his party had always believed because of its size, it required a longer period of time for public scrutiny. “The breadth and size of this report would have hampered the ability of many stakeholders to be able to analyse and develop detailed submissions in an eight week period,” Mr Ridgway said. “This is a pivotal project for SA and deserves to have the consultation period extended to 14 weeks.” APOMA president, Peter Allen was pleased to have more time in order for the Andamooka community to have more time to absorb the BHPB statement and to come up with an appropriate response. “The fact that the proposed new camp for some 10,000 people will be on a location closer to Andamooka than Roxby Downs – just 13 km out of town – means that the potential effect of the expansion will be far greater on Andamooka than Roxby which already has the basic infrastructure. “There are also likely to be issues of where do the 10,000 temporary workers go to enjoy themselves – probably it won’t be Roxby – they’ll probably head into Andamooka. We have to be prepared,” Mr Allen said. Greens MLC Mark Parnell said the Government decision had come just hours before the Upper House was set to vote in favour of a Greens Bill forcing an extension of the public comment period. “The Greens are very pleased that Mike Rann has recognised the original consultation period for the Roxby expansion was woefully inadequate, Mr Parnell said. “Even with 14 weeks public comment period the community will still struggle to read and respond to the largest document ever printed in this State. “The Greens are also pleased the Premier has responded to our call and ensured a longer time for the public to have a say in the Olympic dam expansion,” he said.
How Roxby Downs Council plans to review the EIS on Page 5.
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