Remote Operations is 'switched on'

22 Oct 2007

This week will see 42 Essential Service Operators (ESOs), from the Alice Springs and Barkly regions, travelling to Alice Springs for a three-day course in keeping the power, water and sewerage services in their community connected and maintained.

The ESOs, many of who are Indigenous, will travel from areas including Ampilatwatja, Ikuntji, Ltyentye Apurte, Ti Tree and Yuendumu.     

The twice a year course is also held in Katherine and Darwin. One component of the course will be nationally accredited Fire Extinguisher training. Some of the ESOs are also undertaking a Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Remote area essential services) through Charles Darwin University (CDU) and Group Training NT. The course work is done on the job and assessed by CDU trainers.

Power and Water’s Remote Operations General Manager Darryl Day said, “ESOs service some of the Northern Territory’s most remote areas, often in harsh and difficult conditions, and play an important role in keeping the electricity and water operating in these locations.

“The course provides ESOs with the opportunity to further develop their skills in generation, water and sewerage operations as well as network with other ESOs and Power and Water staff. A new section of the course to be introduced is water quality testing, which is key to ensuring the communities’ water is safe to drink. The ESOs will also undergo a variety of training in areas including safety, electrical basics, water sampling, metering familiarisation and oil spills.”