SYDNEY'S POWER HOUSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19124, 16 September 1925, Page 14

SYDNEY'S POWER HOUSE.

AN AMBITIOUS PROPOSAL. TOTAL COST OF FIVE MILLIONS. • " [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] SYDNEt, Sept. 10. After a long and stormy controversy, in which it set at defiance the previous State Government, the City Council is proceeding with the erection of its new power house—one of the largest schemes, involving about £5,000,000, in the history of civic government in Australia. Bunnerong Point, on which the main building will stand, is opposite the landing place of Captain Cook, at Botany Bay. Except for a few week-end "shanties" the land is virtually in the same condition as when Cook cast anchor there 155 years ago. The council will have control of more thfin 70 acres for the purposes of the power house. It has been promised either the freehold of the land or a -lease in perpetuity. With the Labour Government now at its back the council, controlled by Labour members, can have whichever of these tenures suits it. The immense plant will have double the generating power of the present power house at Pyrmont. It is believed that it will generate current so economically that it :will be cheaper to discontinue operations at Pyrmont, even though it may mean the idleness of that plant, which will then stand in the council's books as an asset north more than £2,000,000. When the new power house is in full swing it will employ about 150 men on each of the three daily shifts, or in all about 450 men. ' Another of the council's proposals is to acquire land in the vicinity for the purpose of erecting houses for the em ployees at the power house. The plant \,il'l bo contiguous to some of Sydney's largest industrial areas, and from these large demands for electricity for power purposes are anticipated. The members on the council representing the Beform Party would like to have the scheme carried out by contract, although they are not likely to convert the Labour caucus to that viewpoint.