Cr. Bob Pynsent was successful with a notice of motion at last week’s meeting when he emphasised that Hydro is a major employer for the Cessnock Local Government area and Cessnock City Council should do all it can to help Hydro Management get the electricity contract they need to keep employing people in the Hunter.

He said that from November 2010 until the State election in 2011, the premiers and ministers Duncan Gay, Andrew Stoner and Robyn Parker and MLC Trevor Khan all promised a new coalition government would expedite an electricity contract with Hydro.

“Now, after 10 months and the loss of 150 jobs, no action has been taken which is clearly unacceptable. Cessnock council must do all in its power to urge the State government to fulfill their election promise be fore more Hunter jobs are lost,” he said.

He added that the job cuts, while serious for the workforce, also had an adverse flow on effect to sub-contractors working on the site.

Mayor of Cessnock, Cr. Alison Davey, said she also is concerned over the job losses and said that meetings she has held with Hydro pointed to market conditions and has nothing to do with electricity.

Cr. Davey also distributed a letter from Senior Policy Advisor-Energy, Charles Perrotte stating that Mr. O’Farrell, when on opposition, said he would help facilitate negotiations between Hydro, Delta and MacGen. He said the Government has met with all parties on numerous occasions, including as late as December. Macquarie Generation and Hydro are currently in negotiations.

“The NSW Government understand that negotiations with Macquarie Generation are progressing in order to come to a commercial arrangement,” Mr. Perrotte said.

Cr. Graham Smith said electricity supply contracts are still an issue and more cutbacks could be expected unless the contracts can be settled.

He said as well as job cuts Hydro has also suspended its community grants program

“This council should be a lead lobbyist in the matter,” he added.