Tucked away in Tasmania’s Central Highlands, Lemonthyme Power Station operates serenely in the background. But since the start of November 2025, the site has been anything but quiet!

The station is currently in the middle of a major outage, a carefully planned shutdown that allows critical maintenance and upgrade works to take place. While the machinery might be the headline act, it’s the people behind the scenes who keep everything moving. One of those people is Maddie, a Project Support Coordinator at the heart of the outage’s day to day operations.

“We’ve been underway for about four months now, and everything is tracking really well,” Maddie says. 

“There’s been a lot of hard work from everyone involved, and it’s been great to see how consistently the team has come together to keep things moving.” 

A local effort

One thing Maddie is particularly proud of is the team onsite. The works are being delivered by an incredible group of 20 Hydro Tasmania site staff, supported by around 13 specialist contractors from the local Mersey-Forth and Devonport areas as well as other parts of Tasmania.  

“That’s been a really positive aspect of this outage,” she says.

“Most of the contractors are highly experienced mechanical fitters or trade assistants who’ve worked on other Hydro Tasmania projects, so they’re already familiar with our machines and standards.”

Many of the contractors were also involved in a smaller summer outage at the end of 2024 and beginning of 2025.  

“Keeping some of that crew on meant they already knew the site and the wider team, which helped create a real sense of camaraderie on site,” Maddie explains. “They could hit the ground running when we geared up for the major outage.” 
 

The role you don’t always see  

Maddie plays a key coordinating role onsite, helping keep the outage running smoothly by connecting people, systems and information. Her work allows the broader team to stay focused on delivering critical maintenance and upgrade works.

“Nathan (Project Manager) and Jeremy (Site Manager) take care of the big decisions, but I make sure the rest of the team can do their jobs without a hitch,” she says. 

“It’s a mix of planning, problem solving, and keeping everyone supported, and I love being part of that.”

The ‘smaller stuff and finer details’ quickly adds up. On any given day, Maddie might be sourcing and managing technical drawings for contractors, setting up external workers in Hydro Tasmania’s systems, or supporting the team to log safety interactions and reports correctly.

“My role is really about providing the right tools and support so everyone can work efficiently,” she explains. “It keeps the team coordinated, safe, and focused on delivering the project successfully.” 

Remote work in the truest sense  

Working at Lemonthyme isn’t your average office job. The site is remote, rugged, and completely off the grid when it comes to mobile reception.

“There’s no phone service at all,” Maddie says. “Wi-Fi is the only way to connect to the outside world, so if that drops out, you really are disconnected”.

Like many Hydro Tasmania’s sites, there’s no cafe down the road either. 

“You can’t just duck out for a coffee or lunch,” she explains. “You have to be organised and bring everything you need with you.”

With the outage running through winter, conditions can also be challenging. “Snow on the mountains isn’t uncommon, and icy, winding roads are part of daily life for our team,” Maddie says. 

From admin to the field  

Maddie’s path to Lemonthyme didn’t start in power stations. With a Certificate III in Business Administration and a background in local government, she’s worked across customer service, planning, building and regulatory roles.  

“What excited me about this role was the balance,” she says. “You’re not just sitting behind a desk, you get to visit places that some people never see in their lifetime.”

That mix of office and field work has kept things fresh during her year and a half with Hydro Tasmania.  

“It’s been a really interesting year and a half,” she says. “It honestly feels like I’ve been here much longer, in a good way. The bonds you form on site are strong, everyone becomes part of a close-knit work family.”

With future work planned at Poatina, Maddie will soon be working between the two sites and teams whilst clocking up serious kilometres along the way.  

“But you see some incredible things,” she says. “On the way to Poatina, you sometimes have to stop while sheep are herded into a fresh paddock. Out at Lemonthyme, wombats and quolls are a regular sight, and the changing seasons bring so much variety to the area."

 "It’s a special part of the job; you notice things most people never get to see.”

Why Hydro Tasmania?  

For Maddie, working in renewable energy was a major drawcard.  

“My dad grew up in Tassie so the connection isn’t totally random, but I grew up in a little town called Mission Beach in Far North Queensland,” she says. “What we can do here with renewable energy is pretty special and not always possible in other climates.”  

There’s also pride in being part of something bigger.  

“It’s a proud moment to say you work for one of the largest renewable energy generators in Australia,” she says.

With Hydro Tasmania’s support, Maddie has recently completed a Diploma of Project Management, gaining new skills that allow her to contribute to projects in more meaningful ways. “Nathan’s been a great role model,” she says. “He’s really supportive and happy to involve me in things you wouldn’t normally get exposure to in a support role.”

 Life beyond the outage  

When she’s not coordinating outages, Maddie spends her weekends exploring bits of Tasmania and enjoying time at home.

Missy, her four-year-old border collie, is never far away. “She’ll never leave a ball untouched,” Maddie laughs, “but she’s also a big cuddler at the same time. Our walks most mornings and nights, no matter how dark or cold it is, keep us both active and give me a chance to switch off.”

Weekends often include visits to the Harvest Market in Launceston to stock up on fresh produce for the week ahead, making small improvements to her recently purchased first home, or experimenting in the kitchen. “I’m a bit of a foodie, so cooking is a lot of fun and I also love trying out a new restaurant with friends whenever I get the chance,” she says.

Maddie and Missy also share a love of swimming, so trips to the beach are always a highlight. She enjoys trying out a new winery whenever she gets the chance, combining her love of good food, water, and beautiful Tasmanian scenery.

As the planned outage continues, it’s people like Maddie and the other Lemonthyme staff who are keeping the project moving, even in the most remote corners of the state. 

Want to know more about the Lemonthyme outage?

Lemonthyme Power Station is a 54 MW hydro plant built in 1969, contributing about 3% of Hydro Tasmania’s generation.  

It diverts water from the Mersey River to the Forth River, supporting three downstream stations.  

The station is undergoing its first major shutdown from November 2025 until September 2026. The total cost for the station upgrade is estimated at $60 million, with the scope spanning from the intake at Parangana Dam to the outlet of the station into Lake Cethana.  

The upgrade aims to boost efficiency and output, improve reliability, and prepare for future grid opportunities.  

Work includes installing a more efficient turbine, replacing ageing equipment, implementing systems that improve grid stability and refurbishing major internal components.