Workers share disgusting images of maggot-infested food served to them at one of Australia’s largest construction sites: ‘Prisoners get better food’
- Employees of Snowy 2.0 campsites have found maggots in food
- Food served in various locations is ‘unfit for consumption’
- SafeWork NSW is now researching food hygiene
Workers living remotely at a government super project found maggots and caterpillars in the food they received from the construction site.
Laborers working on Australia’s largest renewable energy project, Snowy 2.0, south of Canberra, are now considering strike action at the $2 billion project.
Maggots were found in workplaces serving food, including Tantangara, Lobb’s Hole and Marica, and were documented by the Australian Workers Union, which published the footage calling for stricter safety standards.
SafeWork NSW has also confirmed it will launch an investigation into food hygiene at the work campsites after releasing the photos and videos of insects in numerous dishes.
Those currently under contract to work on the project often have to live locally and therefore have no access to other food.
Maggots were recently found in a steak served to workers during morning tea
The Snowy Hydro scheme is Australia’s largest-ever construction project that has changed the country and its people forever
On a Snowy 2.0 work site, a caterpillar was found in a meal alongside vegetables
Australian Workers Union NSW Secretary Tony Callinan said in a statement that food hygiene concerns are not new and have been a topic of discussion “for a long time”.
“Supermax inmates get better food than the workers building Snowy Hydro 2.0.” he said.
“You have workers living, literally trapped in a camp with limited recreational facilities in the middle of nowhere, fed food full of maggots.
“Unfortunately it has escalated lately with some changes in the caterers, and now we are actually seeing food that is not actually fit for consumption.”
A spokesperson for SafeWork NSW also told the ABC that they will be assisting with the National Parks and Wildlife Service in an investigation with support from the NSW Food Authority.
The project’s construction partner, Future Generation Joint Venture, has been provided with copies of photos and videos showing the level of contamination in food served to workers.
Mr. Callinan blames this situation on the partners who have “taken every possible turn in terms of food, security and everything else.”
“The site has a terrible security record – it’s an absolute pressure cooker at the moment. I know workers are considering taking down tools if things don’t improve,” he said.
Poached eggs were inedible for employees who had limited choice of what to eat in remote NSW
A ‘potato pie’ was served to workers that was documented by a worker and sent to the AWU
While the Snowy Hydro 2.0 project has been subject to multiple controversies and delays, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Bowen has not yet committed to launching an independent investigation into alleged management misconduct at the site.
The Turnbull government announced the expansion of the Snowy Hydro project in March 2017, promising first power in 2021 at a cost of $2 billion.
Recent estimates from those involved in Snowy 2.0 expect the budget to reach $6 billion, with construction now expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Future Generation Joint Venture for comment.
