Member for Morwell, Russell Northe has today written to the State Ministers for Industrial Relations and Energy in regards to the electricity connection debacle that is impacting the building industry in the Latrobe Valley and Gippsland region.
Mr Northe had previously raised concerns on the recent shortage of structural timber supply that was affecting local builders, and now these same builders are having to contend with not having electricity connected to new homes and businesses they are building.
“The fact that builders are currently facing either long delays or can’t even get power connected to properties at all is simply a disgraceful situation,” said Mr Northe
Builders are having to resort to either purchasing or hiring generators so they can continue working on site and this has consequences from a financial, safety and noise perspective. And for the home owners who want to urgently move into their homes this is not possible given they are unable to have any electricity connected.
Home owners and local builders are innocent parties to this industrial dispute but they are the ones who are being severely penalised – and that’s not fair!!!
“There have been some cases across the State where people have not been able to move into their homes since August last year, and this is completely unacceptable. It is time the State Government intervened to solve both the structural timber and electricity supply issues Gippsland is currently facing,” said Mr Northe.
Despite these issues being raised in Parliament as recently as last week, we still have not seen any action from the State Government to resolve these matters.
“At such a critical time for the Latrobe Valley economy with jobs absolutely crucial, the question needs to be asked as to exactly what is the State Government doing to rectify the situation for builders, retailers and consumers” Mr Northe said.
Businesses and homeowners deserve to know what is being done to help them through this difficult period and I call upon the Minister for Industrial Relations and the Minister for Energy to fix this mess urgently.
Media Contact: 5133 99088
