Record number of people due to speak against PWCS’s dirty polluting T4
A record number of speakers are scheduled to put their case against the proposed T4 coal loader in Newcastle this week when the Planning Assessment Commission conducts public hearings into the application by Port Waratah Coal Services. [1]
More than 130 individuals and representatives of organisations are listed to speak during the two days of hearings, which start at 1.30pm on Tuesday, August 26, at the Newcastle Panthers Club.
“This is the largest number of presenters ever to have registered for a single PAC hearing, which demonstrates the depth and breadth of opposition to this dirty polluting proposal,” said NSW Nature Conservation Council CEO Kate Smolski.
“More than 90 per cent of speakers are opposed to the project, and they will be urging the commissioners to recommend it be refused because of the very serious negative impacts it would have on public health and the environment.”
The Environmental Defender’s Office, which is representing the Hunter Community Environment Centre at the hearing, has engaged six experts in the fields of public health, economics and ecology who will present evidence early on day two of the hearing (Wednesday, 8am–9.30am).
“T4 is of state and national significance, because the damage it will do to the community and the environment goes far beyond Newcastle and the Hunter,” HCEC spokesman Dr John Mackenzie said.
“The fourth coal loader would lead to more than 170 million tonnes of greenhouse pollution being pumped into the atmosphere every year, more than is currently produced by every power station, vehicle, mine and industrial process in NSW.
“It is hard to imagine how the commissioners could recommend approving this project if they gave due weight to the harm it will do.”
Other speakers include representatives of the Coal Terminal Action Group (CTAG), a coalition of 20 organisations [1], Doctors for the Environment, the Australia Institute, The Wilderness Society, Our Land Our Water Our Future, Lock the Gate and the NSW National Parks Association.
CTAG has organised a public demonstration for noon on Tuesday outside Newcastle Panthers before the commission convenes.
REFERENCES
[1] www.pac.nsw.gov.au/Projects/PACReviews/tabid/106/ctl/viewreview/mid/461/pac/251/view/readonly/myctl/rev/Default.aspx
[2] The Coal Terminal Action Group, an alliance of more than 20 community groups.
BACKGROUND
Coal and GHGs
- T4 will be able to export up to 70 Million tonnes of coal per annum.
- The export capacity of Newcastle’s port has grown from 77 Mtpa in 1997 to 210 Mtpa in 2011 T4 would see this increase to 280 Mtpa.
- The terminal would require output from about 10 new large open-cut coalmines in the Hunter Valley and Gunnedah Basin - induced demand is a serious concern.
- T4 would lead to more than 170 million tonnes of greenhouse pollution per annum - more climate pollution than is produced from every power station, vehicle, mine and industrial process in New South Wales each year, and about a third of Australia’s total emissions.
Biodiversity
- It would lead to the destruction of internationally significant wetlands and bird habitat.
- Much of Kooragang Island is internationally recognised under the Ramsar Convention and 117 bird species have been recorded within the proposed T4 project area.
- Offsets are a joke - one of the offset sites is at Nowra! Another is at Cessnock, far way and inland.
- It will destroy green and gold bell frog habitat.
Toxic sites
- The T4 site has been used as a toxic dumping site for Newcastle industries for decades, resulting in a legacy of heavy metals, hydrocarbons, BTEX chemicals, asbestos and other contaminants.
- There are significant risks that both construction on the T4 site and the required dredging will mobilise these contaminants into the groundwater and estuary system.
- Kooragang Island has already been identified as a cancer cluster, with workers getting cancer at more than double the normal rate. See: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/skinner-sounds-alarm-over-kooragangs-high-cancer-rate-20120720-22fgn.html
Dust
- Newcastle has some of the worst air in Australia. Particulate pollution in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley frequently breaches World Health Organisation recommended levels.
- The community already lives with levels of pollution in the air that are injurious to health, even without the additional burden of the fourth terminal.
- Existing pollution levels will be compounded throughout the Valley through expanded mining, transport and stockpiling of coal.
Approval process
The Planning Assessment Commission hearing in Newcastle is a critical step in the process. Usually when these projects win approval at the first stage, they sail through the other stages. Here are the steps to approval (or rejection).
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“Preview” Planning Assessment Commission – Now
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Planning Department recommendation
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“Determination” Planning Assessment Commission
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Planning Minister signs off
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Link to the planning department website
http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=4399
CONTACTS
James Tremain, Nature Conservation Council Media Officer, 0419 272 254
Dr John Mackenzie, Hunter Community Environment Centre, 0405 433 550
Tags
Pollution and waste
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