After 15 months of negotiation between Western Power and Burns and Roe Worley, Esperance will today be assured of a long-term power supply from a new gas-fired power station.
The plant will be constructed on land owned by the region’s largest power consumer, the Esperance Port Authority.
Esperance Port, which services up to 150,000 tonne Cape-size vessels, and uses up to five megawatts of power at any one time, currently produces its own power from an on-site diesel plant.
It will purchase power from Burns and Roe Worley when the new plant is operational.
Shire of Esperance President Julie Starcevich said more affordable power would attract new and bigger business to the region.
CFMEU ads
CONCERNS over the “bad press” it has received in recent months has caused the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy union to commence a radio campaign.
The radio ads, including the CFMEU’s slogan “We built this city” are designed to boost the union’s profile.
CFMEU secretary Kevin Reynolds said it was no different to any other business organisation pushing a message.
“We’ve copped some bad press from all the papers in Perth and I don’t think that’s fair,” he said.
“The ads are designed to convey to the general public a message about what the CFMEU does for its members.”
The CFMEU will receive some more opportunities to demonstrate what it does for its members in a public forum when the Royal Commission into the Building and Construction Industry resumes hearings in Perth on July 22.
Mr Reynolds has not yet had a chance to give evidence.
