Pensioner still powerless

Update - Power to the People

 

Dear Clare

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We do not know - the circumstances surrounding this tragic death by electrocution of a 7 year old girl in a predominately Aboriginal community in Tennant Creek (NT).

We do know - that if there were any previous warnings of electrical problems at the predominately Aboriginal community in Tennant Creek (NT) - the young child would still have died.

"Our people are endangered by the electrical problems here and (as Mr Hunter has very recently pointed out) "living in third world squalor". (March 03, 2004)

 

 

Electric shock kills girl, 7


NT News


7th March 2005

A seven-year-old girl died after she was electrocuted while playing in a public housing estate yesterday.


It is understood the girl leaned against an outside airconditioning unit while playing with friends at a unit complex.

The frame of the evaporative airconditioner at Blain St, Tennant Creek, was live and the girl was electrocuted.

She suffered extensive burns to her back in the incident and died at the scene.

The man who found her body received an electric shock but suffered no injuries.

The incident happened about 1pm while the young girl played in the yard with friends.

Tennant Creek police Superintendent Colin Smith said it appeared an electrical fault caused the airconditioner to remain live.

"It appears the girl has come into contact with the live frame of the evaporative airconditioner," Supt Smith said.

"She was killed instantly shortly after 1pm."

Power and Water corporation workers tested the unit late yesterday afternoon and confirmed it was live.

All power has been cut off until the cause of the fault can be identified and police maintained a guard at the scene overnight.

An independent electrical inspector from the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment will help police file a report for the coroner.

The housing estate of more than 20 units was completely deserted late yesterday afternoon as the mostly Aboriginal residents left the scene of the tragedy.

 

 

Extracts of just a portion of the letters, faxes and emails sent regarding shocks to Residents, power problems and the danger they pose at One Mile Dam community

 

To: Yilli Rreung Housing Fax: 89350181

 

From: One Mile Dam Community

Phone/ Fax: 89810587

Date: 15 September 2004-09-15

 Attention: John Nai Smith, Gary Gardiner


This morning I talked to Joyce on the phone about another resident getting a shock, this time at house 8. Joyce informed me that Yilli Rreung can only do external electrical maintenance to the houses at One Mile Dam and you yourself have informed us of this limitation to the service you can provide.

We have sent a fax to ADF this morning (I have faxed a copy to you for your information.)

We will contact you tomorrow if we don’t get a reasonable response to this situation from ADF.

Yours sincerely

David Timber

Spokesperson
Kumbutjil Association Inc

 

Sent - electorate.martin@nt.gov.au, gm@yillihousing.com.au, customerservice@powerwater.com.au

October 2, 04

Dear Sir/Ms

We are very concerned about the state of electrical maintenance at the One Mile Dam community. Two residents have suffered shocks when hosing their floors.

House 2 is still without power since Christmas Eve (24-12-03)

Although electrical contractors were sent out by the Aboriginal Development Foundation 2-3 weeks ago, in a phone call today (2-10-04) Bernie Valadian was unable to confirm that work had been carried out successfully. Bernie stated that he had asked the contractors to fix the electrical problems, but the contractors had not reported back to him.

This is totally unacceptable given the inherent danger that poorly maintained wiring poses, particularly with the Wet approaching. Residents need to be informed of the results of maintenance work so they can take necessary precautions. This is not a situation that would occur in neighbouring suburbs.

The residents of House 2 should have had their lack of power resolved eight months ago. Once again this is not a situation that would occur anywhere else in the Darwin region.

Residents can not be blamed for old (and seldom maintained) wiring, subject to damage from insects, rodents and rain.

We need to know who is responsible if a resident is severely injured or worse, due to negligence.

Yours sincerely
Mick Lambe – Kumbutjil Association - Project Officer

 

Kumbutjil Association meeting with housing and planning agencies at One Mile Dam - August 25, 2004

Community present

David Timber
Mindy
Lyn
Rosemary
Simion
Denis Lane
Lloyd Halem Shannon
Terrence
Brendan
Jacqueline

Charro J Morrison
Earnest J Shannon
Sweeney Anderson
Geoffrey
Kerry Anne
John Dargie
Serina
Patrick
*Stella Smith
*Mick Lambe

*volunteers

Housing and Planning agencies

John Nai Smith
Donna Hunter
Kimberley Hunter
Fiona Hueson
Jon Bok
Greg Woodroffe
Gary Gardiner
Steven Bailey

 

• The toilets (external – shared) were not working and there were concerns about the electrical wiring. Safe lighting was needed in the toilet/shower blocks.

• There was widespread condemnation of the long-term neglect of the Aboriginal Development Foundation. (ADF)

• The people wanted the Government to know the “right story”.

 

Pensioner without power - source

Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005

To: chiefminister.nt@nt.gov.au

Cc: DE LA CRUZ,Gayle ; HUNTER,Kimberley ; Bertram.Birk@powerwater.com.au ; ROBINYA,Clarry ; ROGERS,Desmond ; Dennis.Bree@nt.gov.au ; NEADE,Kevin ; Kevin.Williams@nt.gov.au ; COSTA,Lawrence ; BERTO,Michael ; Michael.Dillon@nt.gov.au ; Richard.Preece@nt.gov.au ; tricia.rushton@facs.gov.au ; Trish.Angus@nt.gov.au ; Xavier.Schobben@nt.gov.au ; STACEY,Brian ; gm@yillihousing.com.au ; Ilana Eldridge ; LINDY KERIN ; Penny Smallacombe ; joanne.sangster@facs.gov.au ; minister.ahkit@nt.gov.au ; michael.rotumah@atsis.gov.au; Tony.Beckitt@nt.gov.au

The power problems at House 3 are making Charro's already grim existence far worse. His home has been without power since October 2004. Apparently an electrical fault is the reason for the lack of power as Power & Water have confirmed (March 02, 05) that power is available to his home.

Our people are endangered by the electrical problems here and (as Mr Hunter has very recently pointed out) "living in third world squalor".

 

Sent to - Clare Martin, etc...

Source

Further business October 2, 04

One Mile Dam - Electrical problems need immediate attention - Wet approaches

We have still not received a reply to our requests regarding the dangerous state of wiring at One Mile Dam with the Wet approaching. Given the possibility of serious injury (or worse) and the fact that a house has been without power for eight months we find this lack of response unacceptable.

We expect an immediate resolution of these problems through the Power and Water authority, until responsibility for these electrical concerns has been determined.

- FYI

 

From Green Left Weekly - Kathy Newnam, Darwin - November 3, 2004

Dodging responsibility

The Kumbutjil Association is also awaiting action on urgent electrical problems in the community. In one month, two residents suffered electrical shocks, yet Power and Water failed to respond. This is consistent with a record of neglect.

 

We do not believe our demands are unreasonable. Please let us know if you believe otherwise.

David Timber says this dangerous neglect is part of a plan to "drive us out" of One Mile Dam.

The stakes must be high Clare, if you are prepared to gamble with the lives of the people here. Lloyd Thomas - the last person to experience an electrical shock here - did so near the electrical box that connects to Charro's 'house'.

Charro is continually asking us why his power hasn't been fixed. What should we tell him?

Charro watches TV thanks to an extension
plug from another building

We are still awaiting your government's replies, regarding tenure and the service level agreement.

 

yours sincerely

Mick Lambe - Project Officer - Kumbutjil Association

Authorised by Kumbutjil Association

 

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