Blackout hangs over Sydney

A $200 million project to back-up central Sydney's power 
supply is being threatened by the project's company, Transgrid, 
which intends to relocate to a site on the city's western 
outskirts. A key engineer on the project, who lives on the 
northern beaches, is questioning whether or not he can make the 
move to Wallgrove, near Eastern Creek, which lacks public 
transport and is hours away from most workers — some of whom 
commute from the Central Coast and Wollongong.

Transgrid has refused a request for a risk assessment on its new 
headquarters, with management adopting a "take it or leave it" 
approach to hundreds of head office employees.

"They said 'we're going to Wallgrove, come if you want'", said 
Public Service Association (PSA) member Ho Yam Yeow.

Another worker, Paul Barrett, from Transgrid's Elizabeth Street 
headquarters in the city said: "The move makes no sense unless 
there is a hidden agenda to downsize. The proposal has caused a 
lot of hardship. People's fears and anxieties have been 
heightened.

"For some people they just cannot go to Eastern Creek."

Impact on families

Ho Yam Yeow is concerned about the impact of the move as he has a 
sick wife and two children under seven. "How am I supposed to get 
home in an emergency?" asks Yeow. "This is having a big impact on 
my family.

"Unless you've got a helicopter there's no way I could do it."

Another worker is looking at his family having to sacrifice one 
income to sustain the move.

"My wife will have to quit her job", he said. "Given the impact I 
would expect some consultation.

"It's unacceptable and upsetting."

The decision by Transgrid is likely to see a "brain drain" from 
the organisation — especially from specialised and qualified 
engineers who are in demand.

"They'll lose key people", says one Transgrid insider. "They'll 
have trouble replacing these engineers."

The PSA will be seeking a meeting with the Minister to resolve 
the issue.