Eraring Power Station

Earlier this month, I had the honour of attending Eraring Power Station's fortieth anniversary event to celebrate those involved in powering New South Wales for the past four decades. Eraring Power Station was officially opened by then Premier Neville Wran on 29 June 1984. It took its name from the nearby Lake Eraring, an Aboriginal term meaning "that which gleams or glitters". Eraring was identified as a suitable location for a power station in the 1960s due to its land availability and proximity to the lake for cooling water. At the time it opened, the power station had a total capacity of 2,640 megawatt hours. Today it has a total capacity of 2,922 megawatt hours.

Eraring has generated as much as one-third of the State's total electricity at times. Its contribution to the State cannot be overstated and neither can its contribution to the local community. For 40 years Eraring Power Station has brought opportunity and prosperity to Lake Macquarie. Generations of locals have worked at Eraring, with access to skilled employment close to home shaping the community's social fabric and economy. It has allowed workers and their families to thrive on the shores of Lake Macquarie. It has helped local businesses to grow and to meet the needs of Eraring and its employees. It has also developed a pool of local skilled workers, which has benefited other industries as Eraring workers have diversified their careers.

The closure of Eraring Power Station, while inevitable in the State's transition to renewables, will therefore reverberate through our community, not least because a significant number of workers will lose their jobs at both the power station and Myuna Colliery, which supplies coal exclusively to Eraring. The Government and energy and mining companies must each do their part to ensure coal-reliant communities continue to prosper. I commend Origin's commitment to helping its workforce navigate the energy transition through its Future Directions program, as well as supporting communities impacted by the power station's closure through the Eraring Community Investment Fund. However, the New South Wales Government must act more quickly to help workers and communities who have provided reliable energy to the State for years. I brought the need for urgent attention to this House last September. Unfortunately, workers are still waiting. I look forward to productive discussions with the Minister for Regional New South Wales about the prompt release of adequate funds and how the Government can best support workers and communities.

As we know, Eraring's story will not end in 2027. It will transform from being the largest coal-fired power station in the Southern Hemisphere to being the largest battery in the Southern Hemisphere. With a dispatch duration of 2,800 megawatt hours, the large-scale battery will help ensure the grid remains stable with the uptake of renewables. It will secure Eraring's vital role in meeting the State's changing energy needs for years to come. I take this opportunity to thank past and present power station workers, as well as those working on the battery, which will help ready Eraring for the future. They have contributed immeasurably to building modern and resilient communities in this State. Eraring's legacy is their legacy, and it is certainly one to be proud of.