Guy Barnett,Minister for Energy
The Hodgman majority Liberal Government's number one priority is to create jobs, grow the economy and protect the Tasmanian way of life. We have a plan to achieve this and it's clear that plan is working.
One of Tasmania's largest economic opportunities for the next decade is renewable energy, with our Battery of the Nation pumped hydro plans, new wind farm projects and the second interconnector set to create thousands of jobs and billions in investment for Tasmania over the coming years.
Hydro Tasmania is currently undertaking a full feasibility assessment of pumped hydro development opportunities at Lake Cethana and Lake Rowallan in the North-West and near Tribute Power Station on the West Coast.
This process will identify a single pumped hydro station that can be ready to operate when 1200MW of additional Bass Strait interconnection comes online.
The assessment will involve extensive community engagement, geotechnical investigations and environmental, heritage and social assessments.
These projects will create jobs in design, engineering, project management, civil construction, electrical and mechanical trade skills, transport, as well as ongoing operations and maintenance.
We are working with the Commonwealth Government who have committed $17 million to provide fee-free training in priority skills for Tasmanians to ensure we have the highly skilled workforce to build and maintain pumped hydro to realise our renewable energy opportunities.
Battery of the Nation and the development of a second interconnector will create jobs in regional Tasmania and we are focused on ensuring young people have the skills to be job-ready when the employment opportunities arrive.
This government will continue to progress opportunities for our businesses and industries to create jobs, particularly in regional Tasmania, and as more businesses see a strategic advantage in sourcing their energy from renewable sources, we will be able to grow our economy and diversify our business and industrial base.
