Mayor calls on Essential Energy to guarantee its Cabonne operations

Published on 05 July 2019

Cabonne Mayor Kevin Beatty has called on Essential Energy to clarify whether job cuts announced this week will affect workers and the provision of services in Cabonne Shire.

“Cabonne Council is extremely concerned about the effects these job losses may have on the Shire and we are seeking an urgent guarantee from Essential Energy that its facilities in Molong and Canowindra will remain operational and that services will not be diminished,” Cr Beatty said.

Essential Energy has announced plans to slash its workforce across regional New South Wales, with more than 180 jobs expected to be lost. Staff at offices in Bathurst, Port Macquarie, Taree, Grafton and Lismore are expected to be the hardest hit.

However, Cr Beatty said Cabonne Council wanted clarification on the status of local positions.

“Any job losses in Cabonne would have a major impact not only on the families affected, but on our community,” he said.

“The personal impacts on families is likely to be devastating, but the flow-on effect may also very detrimental to the economies of Cabonne’s towns and villages, particularly when we are experiencing one of the worst droughts on record.”

Cr Beatty said that if Essential Energy could not guarantee that its Molong and Canowindra facilities would remain operational, Cabonne Council would be seeking an urgent meeting with the company’s manager, as well as NSW Energy Minister Matt Kean and Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro.