MOD 7 Infrastructure consolidation and remediation

I am writing to express my strong objection to Modification 7 (Mod 7) for the proposed Infrastructure Consolidation and Remediation at the former refinery site in Kurnell.

My family has called Kurnell home for over 30 years. It’s where I grew up, where my own children are now growing up, and where generations of us have lived with deep respect for the local environment and community. This isn’t just a postcode it’s our history, our future, and the place we care most about. What’s being proposed under Mod 7 disregards that entirely.

The plan to leave dangerous contaminants like PFAS, hydrocarbons, and asbestos buried on site covered rather than removed is not a genuine clean-up. It’s a cost-cutting measure dressed up as remediation. Allowing toxic waste to remain in the ground puts our health, our wetlands, and our future at risk particularly as climate change brings more frequent and severe weather events that could disturb these materials.

Even more troubling is the lack of any fixed timeline or truly independent oversight. Mod 7 would hand responsibility to Ampol to monitor their own site indefinitely, with no clear obligation to fully remediate the land or make it safe in the long term. Once this plan is approved, that land is essentially locked into industrial use forever cutting off any future potential for community-friendly or green space.

We’ve seen first-hand the consequences of industrial activity in this area. The smells, the spills, the damage it’s already affected people’s health, homes, and the local ecosystem. To make this situation permanent is not only irresponsible, it’s unfair to those of us who have invested our lives here.

I urge the Department to reject Mod 7. Ampol should be required to remove all contaminated material off-site, undergo independent environmental auditing, and be held to a clear, enforceable timeline. Kurnell deserves a future that is safe, healthy, and built on genuine care for the land and the people who live here not one built on buried toxins and broken promises.

Please choose long-term community wellbeing over short-term corporate convenience.

I am writing to formally object to the proposed Modification 7 (MOD 7) to State Significant Development SSD-5544, which involves infrastructure consolidation, removal of redundant assets, and remediation works at the Kurnell Terminal in Sutherland Shire, NSW, operated by Ampol (formerly Caltex). As a concerned resident with a strong interest in the sustainable management of the Kurnell Peninsula, I believe this modification represents a missed opportunity for true environmental restoration and community benefit. Instead of perpetuating industrial use on this historically significant and ecologically sensitive surroundings, the site should be fully remediated and returned to the community as public open space to compensate for decades of environmental and community harm. For years, we have turned a blind eye to the spills and gas leaks, but to hear that Ampol are looking to subject us to decades more of the same, is unfathomable.

My primary objection centres on the improper extension of industrial activities on land that was originally leased or granted specifically for oil refining purposes. Historical records, including the Australian Oil Refining Agreements Act 1954, show that portions of the Kurnell site, including Crown land, were provided to Caltex under strict conditions tied to refinery operations. These agreements included 99-year leases for infrastructure like jetties in Botany Bay, with covenants restricting use to refining and related activities only, and requiring government consent for any deviations. Crucially, upon cessation of refining or lease expiration, there are provisions for the removal of structures and reversion of the land to the Crown, emphasising the need to avoid pollution and restore the site.

Refining operations ceased in 2014, rendering the original purpose obsolete. Yet, MOD 7 seeks to consolidate infrastructure for ongoing fuel import and distribution, effectively repurposing the site without fulfilling these obligations. This is not a mere administrative tweak but a fundamental shift that denies the community the right to reclaim this land. The proposal's focus on ‘remediation and grading’ is selective, aimed at supporting continued commercial operations rather than comprehensive restoration. Approving this would contradict the intent of the original leases, which prioritised environmental protection over indefinite industrial occupation. I urge the NSW Government to enforce these historical agreements and require Ampol to hand back the land for regeneration as community space, aligning with calls from groups like the Sutherland Shire Environment Centre for rezoning to open space or national park extension.

Beyond legal and historical grounds, the environmental legacy of the refinery demands full regeneration, not partial fixes. For over 60 years, the site has inflicted significant harm on the Kurnell Peninsula, including hydrocarbon and PFAS contamination of soil, groundwater, and Botany Bay, as acknowledged in Ampol's own environmental reports and the original SSD-5544 Environmental Impact Statement. This has led to habitat loss, erosion of sand dunes, and threats to endangered species in adjacent areas like Towra Point Nature Reserve. The peninsula has already lost approximately 55% of its natural land to industrial activities, including sandmining and the refinery, resulting in widespread weed infestation and biodiversity decline.

MOD 7's proposed works, while including some asset removal and remediation, maintain a substantial industrial footprint with retained storage tanks, pipelines, and distribution facilities. This approach falls short of what is needed to heal the land— decontamination, reforestation with native vegetation, and integration with surrounding protected areas to create a continuous ecological corridor. True compensation for historical harm would involve nurturing the site back to health as public land, enhancing carbon sequestration, improving water quality in Botany Bay, and mitigating ongoing health risks to local residents from legacy pollutants. Partial remediation for industrial consolidation prioritizes Ampol's profits over restorative justice and sustainable land use, ignoring the broader climate imperatives of reducing fossil fuel infrastructure in vulnerable coastal zones.

The cultural and historical significance of Kurnell further underscores the need to reject MOD 7 in favor of community-led regeneration. As the site of Captain James Cook's 1770 landing and a place of profound Indigenous heritage for the Dharawal people—with ancient middens, sacred sites, and traditional connections—the peninsula is a national icon. The refinery's development in the 1950s fragmented this landscape, restricting public access and degrading heritage values. The 1954 Act explicitly includes protections for areas like Captain Cook's Landing Place Reserve, yet ongoing industrial presence continues to undermine these.

Recent initiatives, such as the Kamay Botany Bay National Park upgrades, highlight the value of public access and restoration for education, tourism, and cultural reconciliation. By consolidating infrastructure, MOD 7 would perpetuate barriers to this, limiting opportunities for walking trails, interpretive centers, or expanded parkland that could honor Kurnell's dual Indigenous and European histories. Handing the land back would allow for a ‘protected corridor of native vegetation’ across the peninsula, as advocated by community groups, fostering reconciliation and boosting local economy through eco-tourism rather than fuel terminals.

From a community perspective, approving MOD 7 would overlook the long-term burdens borne by Kurnell residents, including noise, air pollution, and restricted access to their own backyard. With refining ended, there is a golden opportunity to deliver tangible benefits like new recreational spaces, which could improve mental health, property values, and quality of life. Ampol's community initiatives, such as the Kurnell Community Fund, are welcome but insufficient compared to full land reversion, which could generate jobs in environmental restoration and management. Local opposition to past developments on the peninsula demonstrates a clear preference for more green space over industrial expansion.

Finally, this proposal is inconsistent with broader NSW planning policies that emphasize decontamination, rehabilitation, and sustainable development. The State Environmental Planning Policy (Kurnell Peninsula) 1989 calls for thorough remediation, while regional strategies aim to phase out extractive industries and protect biodiversity hotspots. Approving MOD 7 would set a dangerous precedent for other legacy industrial sites, conflicting with net-zero goals and community-led land management principles. Instead, I call for an independent review of options for land handover, potentially rezoning the site for environmental or open space use in collaboration with Sutherland Shire Council and Indigenous stakeholders.

In conclusion, I strongly object to MOD 7 and urge the Department to reject it. The Kurnell Terminal site should be fully remediated and returned to the community as regenerated public land, making amends for historical harms and securing a legacy of environmental and cultural stewardship. Thank you for considering this submission.

By leaving contaminated material, putting a cover on it, and building on top of it, we are putting people’s long term health at risk.
It’s not really clean — just hidden. The contaminated area could leak dangerous toxins into the water, wetlands, and homes nearby. This risks the health of adults and children of the Kurnell community and is a threat to our water and wildlife.

I am writing to express my strong objection to Modification 7 (Mod 7) for the proposed Infrastructure Consolidation and Remediation at the former refinery site in Kurnell.

My family called Kurnell home for over 30 years. It’s where I grew up, where I went to school, where my parents built their first home, and where generations of us have lived with deep respect for the local environment and community. This isn’t just a postcode - it’s our history, our future, and a place we care deeply about. What’s being proposed under Mod 7 disregards that entirely.

The plan to leave dangerous contaminants like PFAS, hydrocarbons, and asbestos buried on site covered rather than removed is not a genuine clean-up. It’s a cost-cutting measure dressed up as remediation. Allowing toxic waste to remain in the ground puts our health, our wetlands, and our future at risk particularly as climate change brings more frequent and severe weather events that could disturb these materials.

Even more troubling is the lack of any fixed timeline or truly independent oversight. Mod 7 would hand responsibility to Ampol to monitor their own site indefinitely, with no clear obligation to fully remediate the land or make it safe in the long term. Once this plan is approved, that land is essentially locked into industrial use forever cutting off any future potential for community-friendly or green space.

We’ve seen first-hand the consequences of industrial activity in this area. The smells, the spills, the damage it’s already affected people’s health, homes, and the local ecosystem. To make this situation permanent is not only irresponsible, it is unfair to those who have invested their lives there.

My mother was one of the original 'Ladies of MUCK'. This stands for Mother Unite to Clean Kurnell and this was an organisation that protested the uncontrolled dumping and emission of contaminants, the constant oil spills in Botany Bay and the complete disregard for the residents' of Kurnell health and general well being. This organistaion was formed in the 1970s by the local women of Kurnell to help to save our beautiful home, and it is appalling to think that this irresponsible environmental destruction of the Kurnell peninsula is still being perpetrated 50 years on!

I urge the Department to reject Mod 7. Ampol should be required to remove all contaminated material off-site, undergo independent environmental auditing, and be held to a clear, enforceable timeline. Kurnell deserves a future that is safe, healthy, and built on genuine care for the land and the people who live here not one built on buried toxins and broken promises.

Please choose long-term community wellbeing over short-term corporate convenience.

Thank you.

Key Objections to MOD 7 in Kurnell
Air Quality & emissions from facility, especially during combustion of waste materials. I am concerned about toxic pollutants, such as dioxins, furans, and PFAS. Public Health…The facility is close to residential areas, schools, and national park

Environmental Impact - Kurnell is adjacent to Kamay Botany Bay National Park, wetlands, and sensitive marine ecosystems. Risk of contamination to groundwater, soil, and Botany Bay.
Kurnell already hosts multiple heavy industrial facilities, and further expansion will continue to degrade the environment.

Lack of Transparency & Inadequate Community Consultation - I feel community trust is undermined due to past incidents and a perceived lack of accountability.

Increased Traffic & Noise - MOD 7 will mean more heavy vehicle traffic to Captain Cook Drive and surrounding residential areas.Truck noise, vibration, and diesel emissions could increase significantly.

Burden on Kurnell
• Kurnell residents already deal with:
• Caltex (now Ampol) fuel operations,
• Desalination plant,
• Historical sand mining,
• Other waste or industrial activities.
• MOD 7 adds to this burden without delivering any benefit to the local community.

Heritage & Amenity Loss - Kurnell holds major cultural, natural, and historical significance — including the site of first contact between Aboriginal people and Captain Cook. Industrial expansion conflicts with its heritage value and future potential for tourism and recreation.

I am writing to express my strong objection to the MOD7 Project in Kurnell.

MOD7 poses serious concerns for residents of Kurnell, especially those living near the Ampol site. One of the biggest issues is that toxins will be left on-site rather than fully cleaned up, posing a long-term risk to children, water sources, and local wildlife. As someone who keeps horses on land backing onto Ampol, I’m deeply worried about the health of animals exposed to lingering contaminants. This proposal would lock the land into industrial use forever, preventing proper rehabilitation and robbing the area of any chance for ecological recovery. The lack of a full cleanup and the decision to contain toxins instead of removing them is unacceptable—Kurnell deserves better.

We are family with teenage children & residents of Kurnell, over 30 years, and have watched as the refinery has changed our community of Kurnell.
This Mod 7 is not going to keep our community safe. It is going to leave Kurnell damaged and unsafe for the future of young people who will have to bring up their families in an environment of pollution and toxic waste left behind by Ampol.
Our environment, waterways, and ecology will be an on-going harmful and destroying risk to the community.
Stop thinking only of the money saved by ruining Kurnell, and think about the lives of people who you are going to be affecting by your plans.
As a community, we have allowed Caltex / Ampol to conduct their business alongside our village. They are now making our village a dumping ground. We have ALL worked hard for our properties in Kurnell to now be subjected to further dangerous chemicals. We do not want BESS, we do not want our soils or local beaches contaminated, we do not want more pollution than we have already been exposed to over the many years of refining, storing and burning of fuels.
No other council or state would allow this to happen to one of their coastal communities. We have ocean-life, mangrove-life, National Park-life, and human lives that are at a huge risk because of the greed of companies who just don't care. '
BUT, my family care. My community cares. My village cares. We have had enough of our environment being destroyed.
Planes, trucks, industry, toxins, oil refinery, carbon black, rubbish dump, destroyed natural sandhills, tanker ships... and now you want to add a risk of fire that can not be put out. We will not benefit as a community from this development, we will lose our homes, our retirement, our livelihoods, our tourism, our younger generations, and our safety.
Caltex / Ampol have paved paradise, and now they want to watch us suffer.
I appreciate the opportunity to voice my say and hope that the right decisions are made in regard to this development.
Our lives, and Kurnell's future, depend on keeping our community safe and building a beautiful environment, not dishing out more stress, heartbreak and torture for the humans and wild life that inhabit our Village. This is our KURNELL -the Birthplace of Modern Australia! Shame on Ampol.

I am writing to express my strong objection to Modification 7 (Mod 7) for the proposed Infrastructure Consolidation and Remediation at the former refinery site in Kurnell.

My family has called Kurnell home for over 80 years. It’s where My father grew up, I grew up, where my own children are now growing up, and where generations of us have lived with deep respect for the local environment and community. This isn’t just a postcode it’s our history, our Nations birthplace, our future, and the place we care most about. What’s being proposed under Mod 7 disregards that entirely.

The plan to leave dangerous contaminants like PFAS, hydrocarbons, and asbestos buried on site covered rather than removed is not a genuine clean-up. It’s a cost-cutting measure dressed up as remediation. Allowing toxic waste to remain in the ground puts our health, our wetlands, and our future at risk particularly as climate change brings more frequent and severe weather events that could disturb these materials.

Even more troubling is the lack of any fixed timeline or truly independent oversight. Mod 7 would hand responsibility to Ampol to monitor their own site indefinitely, with no clear obligation to fully remediate the land or make it safe in the long term. Once this plan is approved, that land is essentially locked into industrial use forever cutting off any future potential for community-friendly or green space.

We’ve seen first-hand the consequences of industrial activity in this area. The smells, the spills, the damage it’s already affected people’s health, homes, and the local ecosystem. To make this situation permanent is not only irresponsible, it’s unfair to those of us who have invested our lives here.

I urge the Department to reject Mod 7. Ampol should be required to remove all contaminated material off-site, undergo independent environmental auditing, and be held to a clear, enforceable timeline. Kurnell deserves a future that is safe, healthy, and built on genuine care for the land and the people who live here not one built on buried toxins and broken promises.

Please choose long-term community wellbeing over short-term corporate convenience.

I strongly oppose the approval of Modification 7 at Kurnell. As a resident of Kurnell, this project would have extremely detrimental impacts on myself and the surrounding community. Leaving contaminated materials like PFAS, hydrocarbons and asbestos on-site forever would be significantly risky and irresponsible. Heavy rain and flooding could easily spread these toxins into Botany Bay, the wetlands, and the places we swim, fish and walk (like previously when Ampol could not contain their hydrocarbons and a large amount spilled into the community on 7 April 2022 during a period of heavy rain). Why should we risk our health and environment so a big company like Ampol can save money? Ampol originally promised to remediate the land properly and turn it into parkland or open space for the community. Now they want to lock in industrial zoning forever and cap the contamination instead of removing it. This is extreme corporate greed and against their environmental obligations. This project puts people’s health and our environment at risk—it also affects the economy, local wildlife, tourism, and future development. It means more industry, more noise, more pollution, and less green space for local fauna and the community. Kurnell is a sensitive and unique natural environment with areas like Towra and Quibray Bay that are crucial ecosystems for migratory birds and mangroves. The area needs to be protected and safeguarded from irresponsible corporates such as Ampol who have already exposed the community and natural environment to toxins when they spilled thousands of litres of hydrocarbons in 2022. The NSW Government should not allow this proposal to progress for the sake of people’s health and the natural environment.

I strongly object to Modification 7 (Mod 7) for Infrastructure Consolidation and Remediation at the former refinery site in Kurnell.
My family has lived in Kurnell for over 60 years. This community is not just where I live it’s where I grew up, where my children are growing up, and where we’ve always taken pride in the natural environment and close-knit neighbourhood around us. What’s being proposed under Mod 7 feels like a betrayal of that legacy.
Mod 7 would allow toxic and contaminated materials including PFAS, hydrocarbons, and asbestos to remain buried on site, simply capped and covered rather than properly removed. This isn’t real remediation. It’s a shortcut. And it puts current and future generations at risk from leaks, flooding, and groundwater contamination, especially during increasingly frequent extreme weather events.
What’s more concerning is that there’s no clear final timeline or independent environmental oversight built into this plan. It essentially gives Ampol a blank cheque to self-monitor indefinitely, with no obligation to ever make the site truly safe. Once this is approved, the land becomes locked in for industrial use forever removing any hope of it being restored, regenerated, or reimagined as something positive for the local community.
We’ve already seen how pollution, spills, and odours from industrial activity affect nearby homes and the surrounding wetlands. Mod 7 will only deepen that risk, making it permanent. Our town, our families, and our natural landscape deserve better than this.
I urge the Department to reject Mod 7 and require Ampol to properly clean up the site including full removal of contaminants, third-party environmental audits, and a defined completion date. Let’s ensure this land is made safe not just for today, but for the next 60 years and beyond.
Please put community safety, environmental health, and long-term thinking ahead of short-term corporate convenience.

ChatGPT said:
Proposal Opposing Module 7 Development at Kurnell

The proposed Module 7 development at Kurnell should be strongly opposed due to its significant environmental, cultural, and community impacts. Kurnell is not only a region of immense ecological importance but also a site of deep historical and cultural significance. Proceeding with further industrial development such as Mod 7 risks irreversible damage to this fragile and cherished landscape.

Firstly, Kurnell is home to the Kamay Botany Bay National Park, a sanctuary for countless native plant and animal species. The proposed development poses a threat to these ecosystems through increased pollution, habitat destruction, and industrial encroachment. Local wetlands and dune systems—critical for biodiversity and coastal protection—are already under pressure, and any expansion will exacerbate erosion, runoff, and ecological degradation.

Secondly, Kurnell is a site of profound historical importance as the first place of contact between Indigenous Australians and Captain Cook in 1770. It holds cultural significance for the Gweagal people, whose ancestral connection to the land predates European settlement by tens of thousands of years. Development that disregards this heritage is not only disrespectful but also undermines reconciliation efforts and the preservation of Australia's First Nations histories.

Finally, local communities have long expressed concern over increased industrialisation. Mod 7 would likely bring more truck traffic, noise pollution, and health risks from emissions, undermining the wellbeing and lifestyle of Kurnell residents. The cumulative effect of ongoing industrial expansion is turning a once-pristine coastal village into a congested industrial hub.

In conclusion, the risks and damages far outweigh any perceived benefits. Protecting Kurnell for future generations must take priority over short-term economic gain.
I’m

As a resident in Kurnell, I strongly disagree with this proposal. Kurnell is a rural suburb with one road in and out, with natural mangrove and flora we must protect our nature and residents from fatality that could happen any time.

Ampol's Mod 7 is putting profits over the concerns of the Kurnell residents we do not want any type of a Bess Plant in our community and we demand a full clean up the Ampol site it needs to be fully completed as we all Know how dangerous this site is with so many dangerous toxins in their site which can affect to the communities ( family, children and visiting friends) and also affecting our tourism, biodiversity and business from air and water pollution, noise, odors, and flood threats - based on Ampol's own reports.
We have no doctors here in Kurnell to attend anyone who may become ill because of contamination because of either a spill or a fire because of the contaminates in the ground so this needs to be fully addressed and a full clean up of the Ampol site is necessary requirement to remove all contaminates from the ground including the water table as this all flows into Botany Bay via their outlets to Botany Bay the contaminates to be remove are as follows: PFAS, Hydrocarbons, and asbestos.
The Permanent Industrial Zoning Lock-in:
Reinforces heavy industrial use (E5 zoning), blocking rezoning for parks or non-hazardous purposes- enabling Ampol's subdivision into energy/industry precinct for BESS, SAf blending, and more with multiple stakeholders and endless uncertainty and insecurity.
And as well depleting market values on our homes AND Kurnell it will turn back into a dumping ground for governments and industries who think it's OK to destroy this Community.
AND DON'T FORGET THAT KURNELL IS THE BIRHTPLACE OF ALL AUSTRALIA.
So please take into account what this place called Kurnell mean to us and including our First Nations People that we are beholding to.
This is most alarming and upsetting proposals that Ampol could do to this community and they call themselves good neighbors which they are not.

Objection to Ampol Terminal MOD 7 Infrastructure Consolidation and Remediation – Kurnell

I am writing to formally object to the proposed MOD 7 project at the Ampol Terminal in Kurnell. This project raises serious concerns for the long-term health, safety, and environmental future of the Kurnell community.

The failure to fully remediate contaminated soil on this site is unacceptable. The presence of hydrocarbons and other industrial toxins poses a long-term health threat through air, water, and soil exposure. Without a transparent and enforceable remediation strategy, this contamination will continue to place residents at risk — especially children, elderly, and those with existing health conditions.

Equally alarming is the inclusion of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in the proposal, which is not yet approved and has not undergone sufficient public consultation. BESS facilities carry significant fire and explosion risks and are inappropriate in close proximity to residential areas and sensitive ecosystems, especially when managed by a company that has already demonstrated environmental negligence.

Ampol’s track record in the community is deeply troubling. The recent oil spill and its devastating impact on local mangroves, marine life, and water quality remains unresolved. Ampol has been neither transparent nor accountable, and communication with local residents has been minimal and dismissive. Trust has been severely eroded.

Furthermore, the sale of a heavy industrial block in what is becoming a mixed-use, semi-residential area reflects poor planning and disregard for community wellbeing. Kurnell has carried the burden of industrial activity long enough.

I urge the Planning Authority to reject this proposal until genuine, comprehensive remediation, safety assessments (including BESS), and meaningful community engagement are undertaken.

Sincerely,
David Cavdarovski
Kurnell Resident / Concerned Community Member

Objection to Ampol Terminal MOD 7 Infrastructure Consolidation and Remediation – Kurnell

I am writing to formally object to the proposed MOD 7 project at the Ampol Terminal in Kurnell. This project raises serious concerns for the long-term health, safety, and environmental future of the Kurnell community.

The failure to fully remediate contaminated soil on this site is unacceptable. The presence of hydrocarbons and other industrial toxins poses a long-term health threat through air, water, and soil exposure. Without a transparent and enforceable remediation strategy, this contamination will continue to place residents at risk — especially children, elderly, and those with existing health conditions.

Equally alarming is the inclusion of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in the proposal, which is not yet approved and has not undergone sufficient public consultation. BESS facilities carry significant fire and explosion risks and are inappropriate in close proximity to residential areas and sensitive ecosystems, especially when managed by a company that has already demonstrated environmental negligence.

Ampol’s track record in the community is deeply troubling. The recent oil spill and its devastating impact on local mangroves, marine life, and water quality remains unresolved. Ampol has been neither transparent nor accountable, and communication with local residents has been minimal and dismissive. Trust has been severely eroded.

Furthermore, the sale of a heavy industrial block in what is becoming a mixed-use, semi-residential area reflects poor planning and disregard for community wellbeing. Kurnell has carried the burden of industrial activity long enough.

I urge the Planning Authority to reject this proposal until genuine, comprehensive remediation, safety assessments (including BESS), and meaningful community engagement are undertaken.

Sincerely,
David Cavdarovski
Kurnell Resident / Concerned Community Member

Objection to Ampol Kurnell Modification 7
I strongly object to Ampol’s proposed Modification 7 (Mod 7) at its Kurnell site. This proposal introduces serious and unacceptable changes that pose significant risks to the environment, public health, and the local community.
Mod 7 represents a major intensification of industrial activity at the Kurnell terminal, including expanded operations, infrastructure changes, and a sharp increase in heavy vehicle traffic. These changes deviate from the original project approval and are incompatible with the surrounding residential, recreational, and environmentally sensitive areas.
A particularly alarming aspect of the proposal is the planned on-site burial of industrial toxic waste, including asbestos-contaminated material and other hazardous substances. The risk of soil and groundwater contamination, as well as future disturbance of these buried materials, threatens the long-term safety of the site and surrounding ecosystems.
Kurnell is home to nationally significant natural areas, including Towra Point Nature Reserve, Ramsar-listed wetlands, and the Botany Bay coastline. The introduction of further industrial contamination places these irreplaceable environments under direct threat.
Local residents already endure the impacts of industrial noise, emissions, and degraded air quality. Mod 7 will worsen these conditions and elevate the risk of exposure to airborne asbestos fibres and other pollutants—posing serious health risks to both workers and the community.
The lack of transparent community consultation on this proposal is unacceptable, given its potential consequences. A full Environmental Impact Statement must be required.
For the health, safety, and sustainability of Kurnell and its surrounding environment, I urge the Department to reject Modification 7 in its current form.

Personal Objection to MOD 7 – Infrastructure Consolidation and Remediation (SSD-5544-Mod-7)
To Whom it may concern,
I am a resident of Kurnell and purchased my property at a premium based on the assurance that the suburb's industrial legacy was drawing to a close with the Oil refinery closure in 2014.

Like many in our community, I believed we were investing in a future built around natural beauty, environmental restoration, and community wellbeing—not ongoing heavy industrial activity.

I strongly object to MOD 7. This modification effectively lets Ampol walk away from proper environmental remediation and locks in Kurnell’s future as industrial zoning. I urge the Department to reject this proposal and instead demand a full and transparent clean-up of this heavily contaminated site.

The Australian Oil Refining Agreements Act 1954 No 34 (p.33) states that the company occupying the land outlined in MOD7 in Kurnell must not pose a danger to public health. On April 7,2022 9000 litres of diesel fuel was released into the Kurnell Village and surrounding water ways due to inefficient management of fuel storage systems in Kurnell. This fuel combined with heavy rainfall meant that many neighbours, including myself had toxic chemicals flowing through their backyards and homes. Residents reported headaches, nausea, and irritation of eyes and throat. There were also fatalities among local wildlife.
Whilst a small fine of $700,000 was imposed on Ampol by the EPA, there is strong evidence to suggest long lasting environmental and psychological damage has been caused to the community. I include an attachment of our wetlands and our bays which indicate a significant decline of the RAMSAR protected wetlands ‘Towra Point Nature Reserve’.

Additionally, The Australian Oil Refining Agreements Act 1954 No 34 (p.27) states “that Company will not permit any solid matter to be deposited or escape or any liquid matter to flow or percolate into Botany Bay or into any ditch or channel communicating therewith or so near thereto as to be liable to discharge into the same until such matter shall have been so sufficiently filtered or otherwise treated as to be innocuous to life and incapable of causing any destruction of or injury to fish or oysters or the breeding of fish or oysters or the young fry or ova of fish or the spat of oysters or any damage to the bed or banks of the said Bay or any pollution of the waters thereof AND THAT the Company will in discharging any liquid matter into Botany Bay at all times observe all the requirements of the Board the Metropolitan Water Sewerage and Drainage Board and the Chief Secretary’s Department in regard to the prevention of the pollution of the waters of Botany Bay”. This agreement has been breeched on multiple occasions.
MOD7 also indicates that the oily water system will be removed either entirely or partially which will result in an increase in water fun off into the surrounding bays of the Kurnell Peninsula. It would appear that allowing more chemical run off into a RAMSAR protected wetland would be unethical and catastrophic to the surrounding flora & fauna.

I attach current images and videos of the surrounding waterways in Kurnell which shows an oily and milky substance in the catchments. These waterways will only decline further should MOD7 proceed. Our infrastructure is insufficient to support more storm water from the proposal of MOD7 and these documents clearly show that MOD7 would only push the water in the surrounding water ways into terminal decline.

Should you wish to contact me further please do not hesitate to do so.

Sincerely,
Allison Casey

I am reaching out to formally express my objection regarding Mod 7 application by Ampol in Kurnell. I believe it is important to address this matter as it significantly impacts Kurnell. Kurnell is a small community, mainly surrounded by water. It has also major mangrove areas which support numerous bird, fish and native plants which are supported by these mangroves. My main concern with this proposal is Kurnell has one road in and one road out. I have lived in Kurnell for 40+ years. I have raised my family of 3 children and now take care of my 5 grandchildren on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and thursdays as well as weekends. This proposal next to Towra Point Nature Reserve with its botanically diverse nature, with almost 300 vascular plant species identified within the Ramsar site. The vegetation is also regionally significant, as the reserve contains approximately 40% of the remaining mangrove communities and 60% of the remaining saltmarsh communities in Sydney. To allow this Mod 7 proposal is totally unacceptable. Ampol should be made to clean up the entire site not leave this debris including asbestos and other chemical posions on the site. In recent years we had major rain fall and the site was not managed properly causing overflow of ampol site allowing chemical spills throughout the community and botany bay. This caused devasting damage to the area.

To allow Ampol to just hide this waste underground on site then use the site for heavy industry is diabolical.

This proposal next to Towra Point Nature Reserve with its botanically diverse nature, with almost 300 vascular plant species identified within the Ramsar site. The vegetation is also regionally significant, as the reserve contains approximately 40% of the remaining mangrove communities and 60% of the remaining saltmarsh communities in Sydney.

Please do not allow this to happen.
.

My main concerns are as follows: Kurnell has one road in and one road out, if a fire was to happen it would have a catastrophic effect on the area and the community that lives here.
I genuinely believe that allowing this proposal would be a devastating decision and does not provide any beneficial outcomes for the local.

Thank you very much for your attention to this matter. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Submission: Objection to Modification 7 – Development at Kurnell
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to formally object to Modification 7 (Mod 7) concerning proposed changes to the development at Kurnell. This modification significantly deviates from the original project approval and presents serious environmental, health, and community risks.
Mod 7 proposes increased industrial activity, higher traffic volumes, and infrastructure changes that threaten the already fragile coastal and dune ecosystems of the Kurnell Peninsula—an area of environmental significance, home to protected and endangered species. Any further development must prioritise ecological preservation and public health over industrial expansion.
Of urgent concern is the presence of toxic waste and asbestos on-site. All hazardous materials must be identified, safely removed, and disposed of before any further works are approved. Failure to do so risks the health of workers, local residents, and surrounding ecosystems. If ignored, this will become a legacy issue for future generations. Toxic substances will inevitably leach into surrounding soils, groundwater, and waterways, polluting Botany Bay and the ocean with long-lasting consequences.
The increased heavy vehicle traffic will worsen noise, air pollution, and safety concerns on local roads. The cumulative impact of ongoing industrial development has not been adequately assessed in this modification.
Most importantly, safety and environmental protection must come before Ampol’s profits. Our community’s health and the natural environment are not expendable.
Finally, there has been insufficient community consultation. Residents were not properly informed or given fair opportunity to comment.
I strongly urge the Department to reject Mod 7 until full site remediation, independent environmental and health assessments, and genuine community consultation are completed.
Sincerely,
John Caulfield
Kurnell, NSW 2231
21.07.2025

I believe that the families of Kurnell past and present do not have to be subjected to high risk industries that have been proposed for this beautiful area. I have family and friends living there and this is causing a great deal of stress. The road access to Kurnell is already hazardous with the number of trucks, cyclists and vehicles without additional trucks. Please put the community first