22 November, 2013
T4 poses unacceptable environmental and health risks
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW has recommended to a planning authority that the proposed T4 Coal Terminal at Newcastle Port be rejected because it would have unacceptable environmental and human health impacts.
The state’s peak environment body today lodged its submission to the Planning Assessment Commission’s inquiry into the Port Waratah Coal Services’ (PWCS) proposal to build a fourth coal terminal.
NCC’s submission highlights the loss of wetlands and threatened species habitat, threats to ground and surface water and the harmful health impacts of coal dust that will result if the project proceeds.
“T4 would significantly degrade the ecological character of the Hunter estuary, including a Ramsar wetland site and the Hunter Wetlands National Park,” said NCC Campaigns Director Kate Smolski.
“The proposed destruction of Deep Pond and part of Swan Pond would represent the loss of two significant sites for migratory shorebirds in NSW constituting an unacceptable loss of habitat for migratory shorebirds, threatened aquatic bird species and endangered ecological communities.
“We lost a significant site for migratory shorebirds when Big Pond was filled in for the Third Coal Terminal. T4 would add to these losses by destroying a further 28 hectares of habitat known to support nationally threatened Australasian bittern.”
Ms Smolski said the company’s proposed biodiversity offsets package would not adequately compensate for the destruction of wetlands and mangrove forest on Ash Island and at Kooragang.
“PWCS’ claims that the offset sites represent a net improvement in the conservation of species in the Hunter region are false,” she said.
“It is far more likely that there will be a net loss of threatened species and migratory bird habitat and a continued decline in migratory shorebird numbers, especially the smaller species, as most attempts at compensation for habitat loss so far have failed.”
Ms Smolski said T4 would increase the volume of airborne coal dust particles, which were already at dangerously high levels near coal-handling facilities and rail corridors.
“Coal dust currently causes serious health problems in Newcastle and the Hunter, including asthma and other long-term respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. T4 would significantly exacerbate this problem, and most likely lead to increased hospital admissions and premature deaths for Newcastle residents. We call on the Planning Assessment Commission to reject this damaging proposal.”
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Coal and gas
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