It’s no secret that today’s women face barriers, both in and outside of the workplace. While gender diversity and equality have come a long way, women are still under represented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). At TasNetworks’ Project Marinus, women are carving out their own place on the $3.5 billion project. We chatted to two women working on the interconnector project about role models and stereotypes for International Women’s Day.

Bess Clark – General Manager

The theme for IWD this year is #eachforequal, drawing on the notion that an individual’s small actions can have an impact on our larger society. What are some small things you’re doing to help accelerate gender equality?

Well one of the little things I try do to, particularly over Christmas, is just encourage people to take time off to go and see kids’ school plays and neighbours’ events. It’s part of broader community and life – actually recognising these things are important and makes rich humans. It’s also about blocking out dairies, and spending time with families. I’ve actually had positive feedback that this is something that’s not always done.

The other thing that I’m getting more conscious of at TasNetworks is having female representatives on panels. Having women speaking at conferences and forums ensures we have that visible representation of competent females leading and bringing expertise to the work we do.

“You can go to lots of forums and conferences and it’s all blokes in suits sitting on a stage; so it’s quite nice to see females in suits.”

What advice would you give to a women in a male-dominated industry?

I’ve always worked in male-dominated industries; I come from a farming background – which is traditionally very male-dominated, and now in the energy sector, which is also very male-dominated.

I didn’t necessarily see its impact – it’s just what I’m used to, but looking back, I’ve actually been incredibly supported and coached by male peers and mentors and really benefited from it.

A lot of the blokes I worked with haven’t been afraid to call a spade a spade, however, they’re inherent biases we all have about our gender; some of the biases might make it harder for women, or in fact people looking after families.

“It’s actually about getting comfortable as a society to talk more openly about things that affect people’s lives and how they turn up each day.

“We can be much more honest about how need to work and interact with each other.”

Jane Barrow – Project Management Lead

What do you believe is the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you?

Women still tend to bear most of the work at home. It’s encouraging to see more young fathers taking on home responsibilities, but this needs to become the norm. Currently, many women in senior positions either don’t have children, or have a partner that takes on the home responsibilities; flexible working arrangements for both men and women needs to become more normalised.

“Stay true to your own values and goals.”

What are some small things you’re doing to help accelerate gender equality?

I’m providing flexible working arrangements for those who report to me,
encouraging my daughters to be self-sufficient and pursue their own goals, and also influence their partners to be accepting of this. I’m also working to encourage discussion in the workplace about issues that are traditionally seen as women’s issues.

“Women are able to achieve in diverse and non-traditional areas.”

What assumptions about women would you like to change?

• That we are all the same;

• That we can’t read maps;

• That older women are not able to learn new things;

• That we all have the same issues.

TasNetworks has extended the closing date for submissions to the Marinus Link Project Assessment Draft Report until 6th April 2020.

This will allow interested parties more time to make a submission. Submissions can be sent to team@marinuslink.com.au

Our Project Assessment Draft Report, together will supporting technical information, can be found here.

TasNetworks has begun marine surveys in the Bass Strait as an important next step in delivering a ‘shovel ready’ Marinus Link and supporting transmission project. Work will be undertaken in Victorian State Waters and the Waratah Bay Coastal Reserve over the coming weeks.

Marine surveys of the sea bed are part of preliminary works as the proposed Marinus Link and supporting transmission major infrastructure project moves into the ‘Design and Approvals’ stage.

The survey work will help determine the best route for Marinus Link’s undersea cables, and will mainly be using sonar technology to measure the surface and subsurface of the sea bed. This survey work will be carried out in February and March 2020 dependent on weather conditions.

Progressing the ‘Design and Approvals’ stage is made possible thanks to $56 million in funding provided by the Australian Government in an announcement by the Prime Minister in 2019.

The Marinus Link Business Case Assessment Report was released in December 2019 with $20m in funding support from the Australian Government through The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the Tasmanian Government through TasNetworks.

The report demonstrated that a 1500 MW Marinus Link is technically feasible and commercially viable and that work should continue to deliver a ‘shovel ready’ Marinus Link to support the National Electricity Market as Australia transitions to a renewable energy future.

Marinus Link is essential infrastructure to strengthen the national electricity grid and unlock Tasmania’s potential as a renewable energy powerhouse and the Battery of the Nation, delivering low-cost reliable and clean energy to customers around Australia.

TasNetworks has explored a number of potential corridors to host a new electricity transmission development between Hampshire and Staverton in North West Tasmania.

The proposed development would increase the capacity of North West Tasmania’s transmission network, supporting new renewable energy projects such as the proposed Robbins Island and Jim’s Plain Renewable Energy Parks and Battery of the Nation.

In identifying transmission corridors, TasNetworks considers environmental impacts, cultural heritage sites, land-use planning requirements, complex energy system requirements, constructability, total project development costs, and many other factors.

Our design seeks to minimise adverse impacts on landowners, businesses and conservation areas, and we have also taken into account tourism, visual amenity, high value agriculture and broader community values.

After talking to landowners, we are now publicly announcing a proposed route within the favourable corridor, which is available below, and can be viewed either section-by-section, or as a whole.

• Proposed Hampshire to Staverton route – section-by-section
• Proposed Hampshire to Staverton route – full map

Landowner feedback is critical and will help to further refine or confirm sections of the proposed route. Community input will also be taken into consideration in finalising a proposed route, and will also help to inform design and construction considerations to reduce impacts, where possible.

From Bess Clark, General Manager Project Marinus – TasNetworks

Today TasNetworks announced details on a proposed new transmission route from Hampshire to Staverton.

“TasNetworks is currently investigating a new electricity transmission corridor between Hampshire and Staverton in North Western Tasmania.

“This proposed transmission line will increase the capacity of North West Tasmania’s transmission network, supporting new renewable energy projects such as wind in the far North West and pumped hydro in the west and central regions and Marinus Link, the proposed 1500 MW second Bass Strait electricity interconnector,” Ms Clark said.

“The proposed transmission route must consider a range of factors and constraints.

“TasNetworks must consider environmental impacts, cultural heritage sites, land-use planning requirements, complex energy system requirements, constructability, total project development costs, and many other factors,” added Ms Clark.

“Our design seeks to minimise adverse impacts on landowners, businesses and conservation areas, and we have also taken into account tourism, visual amenity, high value agriculture and broader community values,” said Ms Clark.

All relevant landowners have been contacted and engagement is underway with the wider community, through a series of ongoing engagement activities in the North West of Tasmania.

“Landowner feedback is critical and will help to further refine or confirm sections of the proposed route.

“Community input will also be taken into consideration in finalising a proposed route, and will also help to inform design and construction considerations to reduce impacts, where possible,” said Ms Clark.

TasNetworks encourages interested members of the public to register for our upcoming community workshops to learn more about the proposed upgrades and provide feedback.

Community workshops will be held in Gunns Plains and Ulverstone on 30 November, and Burnie and Sheffield on 7 December.

TasNetworks will be releasing the Business Case Assessment for Marinus Link and supporting transmission in early December 2019, and will continue to promote opportunities for stakeholders to provide feedback on the project, and to outline how this feedback will considered.

Further information about Marinus Link and the proposed transmission upgrades in the North West of Tasmania is available on the TasNetworks website: https://www.tasnetworks.com.au/

• Download the Hampshire to Staverton Fact Sheet here (pdf)
• Download a detailed map here (pdf)

ENDS

Media contact – Dan Sinkovits 0417 767 124

From Bess Clark, General Manager Project Marinus – TasNetworks

TasNetworks is very pleased to support the CIGRE Substations 2019 conference held at the iconic Wrest Point Casino in Hobart on November 7-8. CIGRE and its members around Australia, New Zealand, and the world, undertake important work in considering the technical and economic aspects of the end to end power system.

The conference gathers together experts in the industry to discuss solutions to address some of the challenges facing the rapidly transforming power system including the influx of variable renewable generation.

Bess Clark, General Manager of Project Marinus at TasNetworks, opened the conference, and spoke about the important relationship TasNetworks has with CIGRE.

Ms Clark demonstrated the evolution of the power system in Tasmania over the decades by looking at the Emu Bay Substation in Burnie, featured in a Advocate News clipping from 1939.

The substation was originally built to service the pulp industry and now serves the Burnie CBD.

Today in front of the art-deco substation building are the huge turbine blades and tower components destined for the Granville Harbour wind farm, a symbol of the energy transformation underway.

Burnie is also the proposed Tasmanian landing site for the 1500 megawatt Marinus Link undersea interconnector. The opening for the Cradle Coast Future Energy Hub last week in Burnie, by the Minister for Energy, supported by TasNetworks, Hydro Tasmania and the Cradle Coast Authority, celebrated the opportunity for the region to build on Tasmania’s strong renewable energy track record.

Speaking to the CIGRE attendees Ms Clark noted, “As the world transforms, we need to consider how we use our collective knowledge, experience, innovation and passion for great outcomes, to drive a future where customers continue to receive safe, reliable and secure electricity at an affordable price”.

“When I think of the challenges we face, I’m always reassured by the skill, competence and ingenuity of the engineering fraternity to devise clever ways to improve things, manage things in new ways, and continue to drive innovation.

“The CIGRE Substations 2019 conference is one more way to share our knowledge, build and consolidate relationships, and help us to create a fantastic future for our customers and for generations to come,” Ms Clark said.

Steve Davy, Hydro Tasmania CEO, also welcomed guests and spoke about the Battery of the Nation initiative.

Mr Davy outlined plans to further develop Tasmania’s extensive hydro power system, to provide dispatchable pumped hydro ‘deep’ storage to meet Australia’s growing need for clean, dispatchable energy.

The key note speaker was Tasmanian Minister for Energy, the Hon. Guy Barnett M.P. who gave a rousing speech demonstrating Tasmania’s potential as a renewable energy powerhouse, with world class wind and hydro resources making it the Battery of the Nation, unlocked by the proposed 1500 MW Marinus Link interconnector.

Minister Barnett highlighted that Tasmania has what the rest of Australia needs: clean, dispatchable, affordable energy.

TasNetworks looks forward to hearing from the speakers and taking part in the discussions as the conference progresses over the coming days.

Media contact – Dan Sinkovits 0417 767 124