CALLS for calm from Tasmania’s Energy Minister seem to be falling flat with a business organisation in state’s North-West urging its members to prepare for power outages.

The recommendation from the Central Coast Chamber of Commerce and Industry comes in the wake of the CSIRO’s decision to secure a generator in case electricity res­trictions are introduced.

Energy Minister Matthew Groom this week called on Tasmanians to stay calm in the face of one of the big­gest power crisis that the state has faced.

Mr Groom also reassured the public his energy security plan would keep the lights on even if the Basslink cable was not fixed by May and rainfall continued to be scarce.

But the CCCCI yesterday told its members to follow the CSIRO’s lead and prepare for possible power restrictions.

President Ian Locke said that while he had every confidence that the Tasmanian Government was doing all it could to avert an energy crisis, responsible businesses should still put contingency plans in place.

“Developing an emergency management plan or business continuity plan, is best practice for businesses, regardless of their size or location,” Mr Locke said.

Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive, Michael Bailey, said that all Tasmanians were acutely aware that they needed to be mindful of power issues — but there was no need for panic.

“A steady hand is what is needed,” Mr Bailey said.

“Solid rains are forecast but there are still a lot more contingencies the government could use to secure energy if the situation worsens.”

It was a prolonged dry spell which prompted the building of the Bell Bay Power Station in the late 1960s.

The then Hydro-Electric Commission sought to diversify Tasmania’s electricity supply away from hydro-electricity during the drought and one of the first units ins­talled at the power station drew water directly out of the Tamar River.