Start of construction on first stage of Ord River hydro-electric power scheme

1/2/95

Construction has begun on the first stage of the $70 million Ord River hydro-electric power project, set to be the largest application of renewable energy in Western Australia.

In Kununurra today, Resources Development and Energy Minister Colin Barnett took part in a ground-breaking ceremony to pave the way for the hydro-electric power station to be built on the main Ord River dam. The station will supply power to the growing Kununurra and Wyndham regions, as well as Argyle Diamond Mine and future Kimberley developments.

"This project will enable hydro-electricity to light Western Australia's far North within 12 to 14 months and will bring to life a vision borne 30 years ago to provide hydro power in the Ord region," Mr Barnett said.

"The Ord hydro-electric project is a major achievement in the wider use of renewable energy and will deliver cheap, clean and efficient energy to the growing top-end of our State."

The Minister said the project involved a partnership between Pacific Hydro Ltd and Lend Lease Corporation, which would supply Western Power with electricity at Kununurra for 25 years and the Argyle Diamond Mine for a minimum of seven years from 1996.

About 100 people would be needed to construct the power station and associated power lines and facilities.

Mr Barnett said the first phase of the project would involve the construction of a temporary coffer dam to drain back water to enable the proposed power station to be built.

Two 15-megawatt power units would be built at the base of the dam wall, converting into electricity the energy of the water being discharged from Lake Argyle.  The water would then be used for irrigation purposes.

Transmission lines had been planned to Kununurra and to the Argyle Diamond Mine. Western Power would provide a transmission line from Kununurra to Wyndham to service more than 6,000 people.

Mr Barnett said that rapid growth of the Kununurra region meant there was an increasing need for extra power.

He said the proposed power station would have the generating capacity to meet the forecast demand for power in the north-Kimberley for at least the next 30 years and would replace three existing diesel power stations which would only be used as a back-up power source.

Western Power and Argyle Diamond Mine would also be able to reduce consumption of imported diesel fuel by 60 million litres a year. This represented a saving of $20 million in fuel costs and would equal enough fuel oil to fill 800 suburban swimming pools.

Mr Barnett said that Western Power had long been studying ways to reduce the operating costs of the Kununurra  power station, and had to provide alternative power supplies for Wyndham.  It was estimated that the hydro-electricity project would save Western Power about $2.5 to $3.5 million a year on operating costs.

The route for the powerline was finalised in consultation with local environmental and Aboriginal heritage groups.

The Minister said that as well as being a major showcase for alternative energy use, the project would be fully automated and would involve nominal human activity after construction.  He said the project would have little environmental impact and all environmental approvals had been granted.

Media contact: Carolyn Vicars - 222 9699