ESPERANCE POWER PROJECT
1075. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the minister representing the
Minister for Energy:
I
refer to the proposal by Contract Power Australia to construct a gas-fired
power station for the supply of electricity to Esperance under contract
to Horizon Power.
(1) Why was the
decision made to locate the power station within the Esperance town site, in
close proximity to residences, playgrounds and sporting fields?
(2) Were any other sites considered, including the Shark Lake
Industrial Park?
(3) Given that CPA has elected to
truck gas to Esperance rather than use the existing gas pipeline —
(a) was the potential for the withdrawal of the
Esperance Gas Distribution Company from the market considered by Horizon
Power in awarding the power supply contract to CPA;
(b) what actions
will the government take to support current customers of reticulated gas in the
event that the Esperance Gas Distribution Company withdraws from the market;
and
(c) has the
minister been briefed on the potential cost to Esperance customers in
transitioning from reticulated gas to bottled gas?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following information has been provided to me
by the Minister for Energy.
(1) The decision
to locate the power station on industrially zoned land was based on the Shire
of Esperance's town planning scheme 23, and proximity to Horizon Power's
Esperance Harbour Road substation.
(2) Yes, multiple sites were
considered, including the Shark Lake Industrial Park.
(3) The decision
to truck LNG was a commercial decision made by Horizon Power, not by Contract
Power Australia.
(a) This is a commercial decision for
the Esperance Gas Distribution Company.
(b) The government is keen to ensure that the private
operators of the gas distribution network, who have profited from their
Esperance business for many years, do not turn their backs on the community.
(c) Yes.