Dennis Franklin
Tarong Power Station site manager Dennis Franklin is full of praise for his employees during the flood crisis.
Employees kept up power supplies to the South Burnett and Queensland despite widespread flooding in the region over the past week.
Mr Franklin said some weekend shift employees slept at the power station on Sunday when roads were cut off by floods and some Nanango-based employees came in to work at very short notice.
Those who slept at work, on temporary mattresses, were available in case they were needed by the night shift, which consisted entirely of Nanango-based employees who changed their roster in light of the severe weather.
Those who had to work the next day and could not return home spent the night in the Yarraman Motel after most routes to the power station were cut-off due to localised flooding.
“I acknowledge the commitment of our employees who ensured power was produced for Queenslanders during one of the most extreme weather events the State has experienced,” Mr Franklin said.
“In particular I thank the employees who slept at the power station, and Nanango-based employees for their commitment, flexibility and professionalism.”
Mr Franklin also thanked the South Burnett Regional Council and its people for reopening access roads promptly after floodwaters had receded.
“Council did a fantastic job in clearing and checking access routes such as the Brooklands bridge,” he said.
Significant parts of the South Burnett lost power in the past week, mostly as a safety measure by Ergon to protect householders.
Stanwell made sure that power was available to supply homes and business when it was safe to restore.
Mr Franklin said one of the reasons Tarong Power Station remained fully operational was the planning employees undertake to prepare for extreme weather events, which usually occur in summer.
The Tarong Summer Readiness Plan ensures the power station has extra coal, extra diesel for restarts, emergency communications and other resources in case of natural disasters.
Adding to the difficulty was that mobile phone communications were also intermittent on the weekend, in common with many other parts of Queensland, though a satellite phone was available.
Mr Franklin said he had only seen the power station cut off by road on two occasions in his 20 years working at the power station.
“These times were the statewide flooding of two years ago and the current flooding, which has been just as severe as 2011 but over a shorter period,” he said.
