Brendan Simpkins
ONE Tree Hill residents have welcomed news a back-up generator will be installed in town, bringing an end to a near decade- long battle.
Last week, Member for King Paula Luethen announced she had received word from SA Water that a permanent generator would be connected to the One Tree Hill water pumping station.
Residents rely on mains power to pump water to homes and businesses in One Tree Hill under the current system, but the township loses access to its water supply when power is lost.
This can cause a potentially disastrous situation if power is turned off during the event of a bushfire.
While residents in the past would have been forced to flee during a bushfire, they now have the choice to stay and protect their homes.
One Tree Hill Progress Association first raised the issue about 10 years ago but the matter escalated again in recent years, with Playford councillors joining residents’ fight.
After some hiccups, Progress Association past president Steve Huckstepp said it was “a fantastic outcome” after years of lobbying.
Those sentiments were echoed by current president Graham Watson, who said the town now had water security.
“People can choose to defend if they so deem, but there is a choice now,” he said.
Mr Watson said the need for a generator was highlighted earlier this year after a minor fire near One Tree Hill.
“SA Power went and cut power to most of the district, so that turned the pumping station off at Craigmore, the Telstra tower up here wasn’t maintained and the battery ran out, SA Water won’t come up the hill because it is a fire even though they had a generator on call...they won’t come up to a fire field,” he said.
“...it was just an absolute perfect storm in a minor situation.”
Playford councillors have been proactive in their support of the Progress Association’s push for the generator.
Ward three councillor and One Tree Hill resident David Kerrison is one of those who has lent his voice.
Cr Kerrison said the community was “ecstatic” with the outcome and paid tribute to the Progress Association for its work in contributing to this outcome.
SA Water told The Bunyip in October last year it was undertaking a project to install a switchboard and generator “quick connection point” at the local water pump station.
“The project will provide access for a portable generator to connect to the site in the event of an extended power outage, allowing us to restore any temporary water service interruption,” a spokesperson for SA Water said.
“The project will also enable our crews to manage the use of portable generators around the network as required, including relocating it to the Craigmore Water Pump Station to provide water supply.”