Residents in Far West NSW report life-threatening outages

Residents in far western New South Wales recently shared their concerns about power outages during a parliamentary inquiry. Many expressed fears for their safety, especially those reliant on medical devices. Last October, a severe storm damaged transmission towers, causing widespread blackouts in areas like Broken Hill. Rita Bruggy, a local resident, described her harrowing experience during the outage. Alone at home without power, she struggled to navigate in the dark. Her medical devices lost power, leaving her unable to call for help. Bruggy relies on a CPAP machine to breathe properly while sleeping and feared for her life without it. The inquiry, led by chair Clayton Barr, aimed to hear firsthand accounts from the affected communities. Barr noted that many residents faced challenges such as spoiled food and difficulties accessing fuel for generators. Public meetings allowed community members to share their experiences and concerns directly. Rhonda Hynch, chair of the Wilcannia Working Party, emphasized the importance of government officials visiting affected areas. Hynch urged politicians to listen to local voices and take meaningful action rather than engaging in debate. A report from the inquiry is expected to be submitted to the NSW Parliament in May.