July 9, 2012
Australia

Local reaction to windfarm fire at Tantanoola

millicentnow.com.au 9 Monday 2012

The destruction by fire of a giant wind turbine at Tantanoola in 2006 prompted an immediate response by the CFS and a curious reaction from some locals.

It was a warm Sunday afternoon in 2006 that the accidental fire occurred and left a repair bill of $3 million.

The CFS sent six fire trucks to the scene to cope with spot fires from the burning turbine while Tantanoola resident Graham (“Grutz”) Knaggs had other ideas.

In an interview published in The Sunday Mail yesterday, “Grutz” had this to say.

“We took an esky of beer out there and watched it burn to the ground: we’d never seen anything so high burn”.

There is no doubt that “Grutz” has a great affection for his home town and this is shared by others.

“If someone gets crook, everyone will help out.

“Tant’s one those places that, no matter what is thrown at it, it just keeps coming back”.

The Sunday Mail has been sponsored by major energy company Santos to send reporter Andrew Dowdell and photographer Chris Mangan across the State to present each fortnight a double-page spread about South Australian towns.

Among the other locals to feature were Bedford/Millicent Work Option Centre supervisor Scott Miller, Hollafresh co-proprietor Ian Lines, Tantanoola Cave guide Cynthia Price and Tiger Hotel publican Ian Lancaster.

The article also recalled some famous past Tantanoola residents as State footballer Ron Hateley and late SA Premier Des Corcoran.

No reference to Tantanoola is possible without the stories of the Tantanoola Tiger and the 1930 discovery of the Tantanoola Cave by youngster Boyce Lane.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/07/09/local-reaction-to-windfarm-fire-at-tantanoola/