MOD 7 Infrastructure consolidation and remediation

I STRONGLY OBJECT TO MOD 7 - it is morally wrong

I STRONGLY OBJECT TO THE MOD 7 proposal

the chemicals and toxic waste and asbestos that have been buried on the site need to be cleaned out . The area could leak dangerous substances into the water, wetlands and homes nearby so I hereby say No to Mod7

To:
NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
Subject: Strong Objection to Ampol's Proposal - Modification 7 (Mod 7) - Kurnell Terminal
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to formally register my strong objection to Ampol's proposed Modification 7 (Mod 7) at
its Kurnell Fuel Terminal.
Although I am not a resident of Kurnell, I care deeply about the environment, the safety of local
wildlife, and the wellbeing of the Kurnell community. Decisions like these affect not only local
residents, but the broader ecological and coastal health of the region-and by extension, all of us. As
a concerned member of the public, I feel compelled to oppose this proposal.
1. Environmental Risk and Legacy Pollution
Kurnell has long borne the cost of industrial activity. Ampol's Mod 7 seeks to expand operations at a
site already impacted by legacy pollution. Despite known contamination, Mod 7 lacks clarity,
transparency, and accountability in environmental safeguards. The proposed increase in hazardous
material handling and f

Statement of Opposition to MOD 7 – Kurnell

I am a proud Dharawal woman, and a Kurnell resident. I strongly oppose the approval of MOD 7. Kurnell is not just a place—it is sacred land. It holds deep spiritual, cultural, and historical significance for my family, my ancestors, and our wider Dharawal community.

Kurnell tells an important story—not only of Australia’s colonial history, but also of the world's oldest living culture. For Dharawal people, this land holds ancestral connections that go beyond physical boundaries. My ancestors are buried here. They fought to protect this land, and as their descendant, I feel a deep responsibility to continue that fight.

It is heartbreaking and deeply disrespectful to witness toxic waste being poured into the land where our ancestors lay to rest. The continued industrial activity, particularly by AMPOL, has caused significant harm to the environment, the local community, and the cultural integrity of this sacred site.

This land should be respected and preserved as a place of peace, memory, and cultural continuity—not degraded into a toxic wasteland.

The flora and fauna of Kurnell are an inseparable part of Dharawal identity. Our stories, totems, and cultural teachings are embedded in the landscape. Clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment are essential—not just for wildlife to survive, but for our cultural heritage to flourish.

AMPOL previously committed to cleaning up chemical spills and environmental damage. However, these commitments have not been fulfilled. Instead, we continue to witness pollution in our waterways, the air we breathe, and the soil beneath our feet.

AMPOL has a responsibility to protect the health and safety of Kurnell and surrounding communities. To date, this responsibility has not been met. The ongoing contamination must be addressed—immediately and fully—before any new development or modification is considered.

MOD 7 should be rejected outright. Instead of further industrial expansion, the land should be rezoned and restored, with recognition of its cultural, historical, and ecological value.

Kurnell is not just land. It is living culture, sacred ground, and the heart of a story that deserves protection and respect.

This will basically back onto my property, it’s a Health and safety concern. It will vastly devalue my property. It will expose my family to health risks that are avoidable. It’s too close to homes, we have already experienced emergencies with the refinery and how inadequately prepared they are risking us- the residents. We have had a tornado take our entire home. Having this behind our property with a tornado, just cannot see this being safe at all. It’s a flat no from
My family!

I wish to formally object to the proposed modification (MOD-7) regarding the remediation of the heavily contaminated former industrial site at Kurnell.
MOD-7 facilitates the further degradation of an already severely compromised site, enabling Ampol to abdicate its full responsibility to undertake comprehensive decontamination and off-site removal of hazardous materials.

Ampol must not be released of its obligation to conduct a thorough and complete remediation of the site. This is critical not only to environmental recovery but to safeguarding the wellbeing of current and future generations.

The *Australian Oil Refining Agreements Act 1954 (No. 34) explicitly states that the company occupying the land defined in MOD-7 must not pose a danger to public health. However, the serious diesel spill on 7 April 2022—when 9,000 litres of diesel were released into Kurnell and adjacent waterways due to negligent fuel storage management—demonstrates a clear breach of this obligation. The combination of this spill with heavy rainfall led to the widespread dispersal of toxic chemicals into residential areas and reported deaths among local wildlife.
There has been a noted decline in the health of the Towra Point Nature Reserve.
Our streets and suburb should not be treated again and again as the unlucky party in this company’s negligence and arrogance at what they can get away with.

Furthermore, the Act (p. 27) includes a clear and binding provision stipulating that the company must not permit any solid or liquid matter to enter Botany Bay unless it has been rendered completely innocuous to marine life and incapable of causing ecological harm. It also requires strict compliance with all directives issued by the Metropolitan Water Sewerage and Drainage Board and the Chief Secretary’s Department to prevent pollution of Botany Bay. These conditions have been breached on multiple occasions.

MOD-7 also proposes the partial or complete removal of the oily water separation system, which would significantly increase the volume of untreated runoff into adjacent bays and wetlands.

I urge the Department to reject MOD-7 and call for a full, transparent, and scientifically robust clean-up of the site. Ampol must be held accountable for restoring the land to a condition that poses no risk to human or environmental health.

I’m writing to object to MOD-7 for the Ampol Kurnell Terminal. While I understand the plan is to tidy up old infrastructure and prepare the site for the future, there are some big concerns that haven’t been addressed.

Environmental risks – The works are close to sensitive parts of Botany Bay, and there’s not enough detail on how contamination, soil disturbance, or damage to local habitats will be prevented.

Air quality – There’s little information on how dust, emissions, or odours will be managed. Local residents deserve reassurance that these works won’t harm our health.

Transparency – The community hasn’t been given enough clear, accessible information. We need open sharing of environmental reports, plans, and independent oversight so the process can be trusted.

Until these issues are properly addressed, I don’t believe MOD-7 should be approved

We need more information - guarantees of our safety

The proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Kurnell is not just ill-conceived — it is a public safety disaster in the making, an environmental betrayal, and an economic scam built on false green promises and predatory profiteering.
It must be abandoned immediately in the national interest.

A Site Undergoing Remediation — Now to be Recontaminated?
According to MOD 7 Infrastructure Consolidation and Remediation, lodged by Ampol Refineries NSW Pty Ltd (SSD-5544-Mod-7), Ampol intends to:

“Consolidate existing operational infrastructure onsite, including the removal, relocation &/or augmentation of the oily water system, fire water systems, electrical assets & other structures; & remediation & grading of the former refinery areas on the site.”
This statement alone underscores the sheer absurdity of this BESS proposal. How can a site declared in need of remediation from past chemical contamination now be repurposed to host an even more toxic, high-risk, industrial-scale fire hazard?

This is not remediation. It is re-toxification. It is regression, not restoration.

Key Grounds for Rejection

1. NO GUARANTEED CLEAN-UP — NO DECOMMISSIONING BOND
There is no upfront decommissioning bond attached to this project — no financial guarantee for the safe removal of toxic materials, waste, or infrastructure at the end of the project’s life. The community will be left to deal with the wreckage — both financially and environmentally.

2. RENEWABLE ENERGY RORT: A FAKE GREEN GRIFT
The BESS is a Trojan horse for a renewables Ponzi scheme. It feeds off taxpayer-funded subsidies while delivering no reliability, no price relief, and no energy independence. Electricity prices continue to soar while foreign multinationals harvest subsidies, manipulate the market and abandon responsibility.

3. LIFE-THREATENING TOXIC FIRE RISK
Battery storage systems are fire-prone, explosion-risk installations, and thermal runaway events are near-impossible to control. When they burn, they release lethal plumes of chemicals including hydrofluoric acid, and Bis-FASI — a member of the PFAS chemical family, which is toxic, persistent, and bioaccumulative.

This risk is magnified exponentially by the site's proximity to Australia’s largest fuel terminal — a recipe for industrial catastrophe!

4. UNDERMINES AMPOL'S OWN ENVIRONMENTAL CLAIMS
Ampol’s MOD 7 submission acknowledges a need to remediate and rehabilitate former refinery areas. Yet this BESS proposal directly undermines that goal by introducing new, persistent contaminants and a major combustion and explosion hazard. It is ecocidal hypocrisy dressed up as progress.

5. INTERGENERATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE
Placing this facility in Kurnell imposes a long-term toxic legacy on future generations. It violates the principle of intergenerational equity, burdening our children with poisoned land, water contamination, and energy instability — all in the name of short-term corporate profit.

6. A NATIONAL SECURITY AND GRID INTEGRITY CRISIS
This is not about powering Australia. This is about grid sabotage by parasitic infrastructure operators like TransGrid, and foreign-aligned energy interests reliant on supply chains controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. The very sovereignty of Australia’s energy future is being traded away.

7. GROSS VIOLATION OF NATIONAL LAWS AND PUBLIC SAFETY STANDARDS
This plan defies:

The National Electricity Objective, which mandates affordable, reliable, and safe energy.
The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, which PFAS and chemical leaks will threaten.
The Commonwealth PFAS Ban, breached by the presence of PFAS-like compounds such as Bis-FASI.
The Modern Slavery Act, ignored by importing battery minerals from exploitative, unregulated supply chains.

8. A FAILURE OF DEMOCRATIC PROCESS
The Kurnell community has not been adequately consulted. The people who live closest to this danger have been ignored and dismissed. The voices of local residents, First Nations custodians, and environmental advocates have been systematically sidelined.

This is a Project of Pure Harm

This proposed BESS will never generate power or provide essential synchronous inertia, it is not renewable, not sustainable, not sovereign, and not safe.

It is the antithesis of the greater good, and an active threat to:
Public health and safety
Environmental protection
Economic justice
National security
Energy sovereignty

Australia must dump this dangerous NET ZERO fraud & jail the corrupt decision-makers who knowingly place lives at risk, desecrate our land, and deliberately manipulate and violate the truth.

Instead, our evil, rotten Government must urgently prioritise:
Reliable, affordable, secure, 24/7 Australian coal and gas.
The establishment of a safe, sovereign nuclear energy industry.
True environmental stewardship, not this performative, pollutant-laden deception.

The people of Kurnell, and all Australians, deserve THE TRUTH.
We have our BATTLE ARMOR on - THE RESISTANCE to the FAKE GREEN RenewaBULL SWINDLE is only just getting started - and GOD IS ON OUR SIDE!!

There isn’t enough evidence this project wont negatively impact Kurnells natural environment- there is still ongoing repercussions from the spill three years ago- there needs to be an independent group/EPA consultation as well as more input from the Kurnell community- a group consisting of Kurnell residents to be taken on a tour of the site and proposed infrastructure

To Whom It May Concern,

We are new residents to Kurnell and are writing to strongly object to Mod 7.

We moved here recently to raise our young family, we have a one year old and plan to grow our family in this beautiful, peaceful place. As hard-working young professionals, we’ve made a big commitment to build our future here because we truly care about this land, the environment, and the health of our community.

The idea of leaving toxic materials like PFAS, hydrocarbons, and asbestos buried on site is extremely worrying. This isn’t a proper clean-up, it puts our health, our children’s future, and the land we love at risk. With extreme weather becoming more common, the dangers only increase.

We’re also very concerned that Ampol would be left to monitor the site themselves, with no clear timeline or independent checks. That’s not good enough for a community that deserves transparency, safety, and respect.

We love Kurnell and want to see it protected for future generations. Please do not let Mod 7 go ahead.

Submission: Objection to Modification 7 (Mod 7) – Kurnell Refinery
To: NSW Department of Planning and Environment
From: George & Jo Payne
Date: 1/8/2025

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Subject: Formal Objection to SSD-5544-Mod-7 – Proposed Modification 7 to Viva Energy Kurnell Terminal

To whom it may concern,

We are long-term residents of Kurnell and are writing to express our strong objection to the proposed Modification 7 (Mod 7) to the existing Viva Energy terminal development consent.

Our family has made a conscious decision to live and eventually retire in Kurnell, not only because of its natural beauty and community character, but also because it offers a peaceful, healthy environment that we believe is best suited to support our disabled daughter’s ongoing care. This proposal, however, poses a serious threat to that vision.

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1. Health and Wellbeing of Vulnerable Residents

Our daughter lives with a disability and is particularly vulnerable to environmental stressors. We are deeply concerned about the health impacts associated with the increased fuel storage, emissions, and industrial activity proposed under Mod 7.

Any rise in airborne pollutants, odours, or noise levels poses real risks to her health, comfort, and quality of life. The stress on carers and families in managing these added burdens cannot be overstated.

We urge the Department to consider not only generic environmental health data, but also the lived experiences of vulnerable individuals in this community, who would be disproportionately affected by this modification.

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2. Environmental and Community Legacy

Kurnell is a place of extraordinary natural significance, surrounded by protected bushland, coastlines, and cultural heritage. We believe any proposal that increases the industrial footprint in this area undermines the long-term sustainability and ecological legacy of the region.

Rather than expanding industrial operations, we should be investing in the restoration and renewal of the Kurnell peninsula — making it a safer, cleaner place for future generations.

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3. Liveability, Safety and Accessibility

We are particularly concerned about how Mod 7 may:
• Diminish the liveability of the suburb, particularly for older residents and carers.
• Exacerbate emergency response risks, including during bushfires or industrial accidents, especially for people with mobility challenges.
• Reduce access to clean air, safe walking spaces, and recreational areas, all of which are essential for healthy ageing and disability inclusion.

Kurnell should be moving toward becoming more inclusive and supportive, not more hazardous.

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4. Lack of Transparency and Community Engagement

We feel there has been little effort to properly consult local residents about the scale, purpose, and risks of this modification. A proposal of this kind, in such a sensitive area, should only proceed with full transparency and public accountability.

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Conclusion

As a family committed to living and caring in Kurnell, we strongly object to the approval of Modification 7. We believe this proposal is inconsistent with the needs and values of the local community, and we ask that the Department place the health, safety, and future of Kurnell residents above short-term industrial expansion.

Please keep us informed of any decisions or further opportunities for public comment.

Sincerely,
George & Joanne Payne

This project is not in the best interests of the community who live in Kurnell. The local community overwhelmingly object to the submission. It is unsafe and dangerous to the community.

This proposal is harmful to the residents and environment alike. Being born and raised in kurnell and growing up during the times of an active refinery, it is time the residents and their health were considered, and the younger families moving into the beautiful suburb are given the opportunity to experience a less industrialised suburb.

Myself and my family have lived in Kurnell for 25 years. We have raised 3 sons and would love to stay and have my grand kids visit.
With this project, the lives of the community are being put at risk. We only have one road in and out in the case of an emergency. With this development there is a high risk to the community with the possibility at the loss of the whole community.
Kurnell is at the end of a peninsula and we can only escape by Captain Cook Drive, where this development will be set up. There would be no safe passage.
We have had the refinery, which is now a storage for fuel, putting the community at greater risk if there is a fire.
The community has been improving over the past decade with the introduction of young families coming to the area. We have spent money improving our homes and creating lives for our families.
Small businesses have been opening up to support the community giving more choices to everyone with more cafes and food outlets opening.
The community support everyone making it a great place to live and raise a family. There is no other place in the Sutherland Shire like Kurnell
This project puts the health of all residents at risk.
Kurnell also has a historical past and a project like this gives no respect to our past.
Caltex/Ampol has made millions from their manufacturing in Kurnell and we have suffered enough. It is time to put the people of Kurnell before big business.
If this development is needed, there are many other places in the state that could be used that are better suited, with better options for the safety of the people of this state.
Please think about the health and safety of the residents as well as the Kurnell environment, which has also suffered from the overuse of the land. Do not let this development proceed.

I respectfully submit my strong objection to Modification 7, which proposes the long-term containment — rather than removal — of toxic substances at the former Kurnell oil refinery site.

Kurnell is not just a postcode. It is one of the last remaining wild pockets of Sydney — a place of wetlands, bushland, and migratory bird habitat. It is home to native species, endangered flora, and intricate ecosystems that cannot survive contamination. The idea of burying hazardous materials such as PFAS, hydrocarbons, and asbestos under soil and plastic, then fencing the area off as “managed,” is not a solution — it is abandonment.

These substances are known to leach into groundwater and runoff, particularly during extreme weather, flooding, or erosion. In Kurnell, these events are not theoretical — they are common. We have seen how tides breach banks, how storms carry silt and debris through drainage systems. Allowing contaminants to remain here, permanently capped, puts all surrounding ecosystems at ongoing risk: saltmarsh, mangrove, seagrass, and bird breeding zones, to name just a few.

The wetlands surrounding the refinery site are internationally significant. Migratory birds rely on these habitats for survival, as do native mammals, amphibians, and insects. Allowing toxins to remain in the soil will disrupt delicate food chains and create long-term bioaccumulation impacts we cannot yet measure.

We were told the land would be cleaned and restored. This modification breaks that commitment. It also locks the site into permanent industrial zoning, extinguishing any future hope of rehabilitation or community use.

There is nothing modern about containment. It is an outdated, dangerous method that passes the burden of responsibility onto future generations. Environmental justice means more than doing the bare minimum. It means doing what is right — and that means full removal of toxic materials.

Kurnell is not the place to take shortcuts. It has already endured decades of pollution and industrial misuse. It deserves real restoration — not just new fences and paperwork.

I urge you to reject Modification 7 and demand that Ampol follow through on the original commitment to clean up the site. Kurnell’s environment depends on it.

To whom it may concern,

I write as a concerned resident of Kurnell to formally object to the proposed Modification 7 (Mod 7) to the existing development consent for the Viva Energy Kurnell Terminal.

This modification proposes to further industrialise the Kurnell site, which raises serious and legitimate concerns regarding environmental, health, and community impacts. I urge the Department to reject this modification on the following grounds:

1. Environmental Risks

Kurnell is a coastal community with significant ecological sensitivity, bordering Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Towra Point Nature Reserve, and protected marine environments. The increased storage, transfer, or processing of fuels and chemicals proposed in Mod 7 poses unacceptable risks of contamination to these fragile ecosystems, including:
• Potential leaks, spills, or vapour emissions affecting soil and groundwater quality.
• Increased risk of stormwater pollution reaching Botany Bay.
• Threats to biodiversity through habitat degradation and air/water pollution.

The environmental consequences of a mishap in this area could be catastrophic and irreversible.

2. Human Health Impacts

The Kurnell community has historically borne a disproportionate burden of industrial activity and its health effects. Mod 7 proposes intensifying operations that will further:
• Increase the level of airborne pollutants including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter.
• Contribute to long-term respiratory and cardiovascular health issues for residents, particularly the elderly, children, and vulnerable individuals.
• Add odour, noise, and light pollution, further reducing the liveability of the area.

Given the existing cumulative exposure of the community to industrial emissions, any further intensification of operations should be subject to the precautionary principle—especially in the absence of clear, independent baseline health data.

3. Bushfire and Safety Concerns

The refinery is situated in a bushfire-prone area. With climate change increasing the intensity and frequency of extreme weather, Mod 7 may escalate risk by increasing the volume of flammable materials stored onsite. The risk to life, property, and the surrounding natural environment must be taken seriously.

4. Community Amenity and Wellbeing

The proposal contradicts broader planning goals that aim to restore and improve the quality of life and natural amenity in Kurnell. The community has long sought a transition away from polluting industry toward more sustainable and ecologically-compatible uses for this coastal peninsula. This modification undermines those aspirations.

5. Lack of Genuine Community Consultation

There appears to be insufficient community engagement or genuine effort to involve residents in understanding the full impacts of the proposal. A project of this scale and risk profile requires transparent, accessible, and independent public consultation processes—something the current pathway lacks.

In light of the serious environmental, health, and social concerns outlined above, I strongly object to the approval of Modification 7 at the Kurnell site. I urge the NSW Department of Planning and Environment to act in the long-term interest of the community, the environment, and public health by refusing this modification.

I request to be notified of any decisions or further opportunities for public input regarding this matter.

This will impact the lives of my young children and my property

At the base of the issue, lies the underlying health and safety risks associated with refusing the safely dispose of hazardous waste materials.
Regardless of the safety nets put in place to 'reduce' or 'minimise' risk. Risk should not be reduced or minimised, if there is even the slightest chance of adverse risk to the residents, flora and fauna of the kurnel peninsula by not entirely removing the waste Caltex, Apologies and the state government have a fundamental responsibility to ensure it is removed and safely disposed of.

By refusing to do so, the parties involved are openly admitting that the health and safety of the residents, flora and fauna of Kurnell and by way of comparison the entire country has a dollar value associated.

The state government should take all necessary steps to enforce the removal of waste.