Newcastle Gas Storage Facility

Submission re AGL Newcastle Gas Storage Facility
Major Project Application Number 10-0133
Environmental Assessment for the Project in accordance with the Minister for Planning.
The Hunter Koala Preservation Society Inc. (HKPS) comments on AGL Environmental Assessment.
“This project is a controlled action requiring the project to be assessed and approved under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). It was determined the Project has the potential to have a significant impact on matters of National Environmental significance.”
While the Wetlands are of international importance, threatened species and communities, listed migratory species of birds are all of extreme importance to the biodiversity of the Port Stephens and Newcastle area. I would like to comment on the impact that the AGL Primary Project Areas which includes the gas plant site, access road and the utility corridor and gas pipeline access corridor would have on Port Stephens Koala population and Koala habitat destroyed by this facility. There is also the danger of polluting the eucalyptus leaves of the trees surrounding this 28 ha area.
Tomago Sand-bed habitat area has been threatened and destroyed for decades by mineral sand mining by R.Z. Mining. Although it has been revegetated in a fashion, the quality and quantity of flora cannot reach the previous standard of an old established forest. You can plant a plantation, but it takes hundreds of years for a forest to evolve.
The access road and Utility corridor as well as the Gas pipeline access corridor will also destroy Koala habitat.
ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Once again the statements of no residual impacts are envisaged by AGL for the New Holland Mouse and Green and Golden Frog – the small amount of suitable habitat to be cleared for the project has not been of any importance according to AGL, a pity frogs and mice cannot vote as it is left to others to plead their loss of habitat.
Migratory species do not weigh any more regards, Satin Flycatchers loses 3.4 ha of its habitat, while the Black Faced Monarch loses 22.2 ha of this habitat to be removed.
The other threatened fauna species being the Spotted-tail Quoll, Long-nosed Potoroo, and Grey-headed Flying Fox.
AGL statement:
“That the larger more preferred habitat that surrounds the project area, the project is unlikely to have any potential residual impacts on these species in the locality”.
HKPS can only wonder where the bio- biodiversity offsets can be found in the Port Stephens area, and who will maintain them? It has been noted on the Tilligerry Peninsula where corridors were ordered by the Lands and Environment Court 1994 that they no longer exist, some destroyed by Powerlines etc.
BUSHFIRE.
The 1994 bushfires in the Tomago Sand-beds area were extensive and destroyed Koala habitat and many Koalas were lost and some came into care with horrific burns
YEAR RESCUED DIED TOTAL
1993 1 1 0
1994 104 59 45
1995 9 5 4

8.1 Existing environment. The primary project area and pipe-line corridors contain Coastal Sand Apple – Blackbutt forest, Alluvial Tall Moist forest and Swamp Mahogany – Paperbark Swamp forest, suitable for Koala habitat as well as threatened ecological communities in the vicinity of the project which include Swamp Mahogany-Paperbark Swamp Forest. SEPP14 Coastal Wetlands as well as SEPP71 Coastal Protection Areas.
GROUND WATER.
The Primary Project Area overlaps the Tomago Sand beds and is within the Hunter Water Special Area. This Tomago aquifer supplies Newcastle, Port Stephens and some Hunter Valley Areas with water and could be serious risk of pollution by the AGL Gas Storage Facility Project, the pipeline construction and roadwork’s. No matter what conditions are placed on AGL, accidents do happen and in this instance a Regions Water supply could be contaminated permanently.
TABLE ES2 RESIDUAL IMPACTS on SIGNIIFICIENT SPECIES.
It is noted that a biodiversity off-set strategy will be prepared and implemented to compensate for residual impacts that cannot be avoided or mitigated. SEPP14 Coastal Wetlands, SEPP11 Coastal Protection Areas
However, SEPP44 Koala Habitat protection mentions only 4.9 ha preferred habitat and feeding trees will be removed.
The statement:
“That restoration of Koala habitat will be undertaken in consultation with Port Stephens council” will not provide the essential habitat necessary for Koala survival for decades if ever.
The statement:
“No residual impacts are envisaged” is a totally untrue statement, made with the intent to deceive or mislead the public.
HABITAT AND CORRIDORS
Another 24ha of the Primary Project area will be cleared. At least the table ES2 confirmed that the Project will contribute to on-going incremental loss and degradation of habitat species within Port Stephens Local Government Area and wider Hunter Region.
AGL admits that this Project could be expected to a decline in some threatened species. Another bio-diversity offset is offered so this area can be destroyed for generations. Not good enough for the residual Koala population. Nationals and Wildlife Service (N.P.W.S) Association made Radio collar studies after the 1994 Tomago Bushfires which proved that a Koala utilised and needed 200 food trees to survive.
EPBC-listed EARP’s Gums. Another biodiversity by AGL. HKPS can only be amazed by assurance from AGL that they could possible replace or compensate the loss of these EARP’s Gums that have taken so many years to produce these magnificent specimens, so necessary for the Koala population to survive.
So much habitat has been destroyed by the aluminium smelter and surrounding industrial development that it is a death by 1000 cuts for Koala sand other fauna and flora in Port Stephens.
AIR QUALITY
AGL states that the main emissions to the atmosphere will be combustion gases from liquefaction and re gasification. HKPS would like a study to be undertaken by AGL to find out what effects these emissions include oxide of Nitrogen, Carbon Monoxide, volatile organic carbon, sulphur dioxide, and particles as well as the combustion of waste sulphide (H2S). In the sour gas flare emissions of SO2 will make on the biodiversity of the Tomago sand bed flora and fauna, especially how the emissions will affect the leaf quality for the Koalas and other arboreal fauna.
CLIMATE CHANGE
AGL statement:
“That the Project will emit greenhouse gases, that will contribute to anthropogenic climate change”, shows that this is not a suitable industry for Port Stephens. Australia and overseas countries are planning on how to control industry that causes Greenhouse emissions – it should not be only residents that carry the cost. HKPS does not agree with AGL that this Project will have significant environmental economic and social benefits for the Hunter Region and NSW as a whole.
The Project will destroy Koala habitat and Koalas in the Tomago Region. There will be the problem of excessive noise, air quality, the pollution for workers at the plant, including nearby residents, and other industry employees. There is also the potential for hazardous incidents from flammable gases.
There will be a danger of polluting the Regions water supply at the Tomago aquifers. Also the perimeter fencing is unsuitable for Koalas – cutting into Koala corridors.
RESOURCES AND ENERGY – WASTE WATER SERVICES
Hydrostatic test water by AGL to either nearby creek lines that discharge to the Hunter River will infiltrate to Tomago Sand beds Aquifer should not be allowed.
The statement:
“That the total volume of water to be discharge, will need to be sensitively managed”, points to the possible risk of damage and pollution to the river and aquifers”.
“A truck loading facility to allow the despatch of 1000 tankers of LNG per year”. Will AGL pay Port Stephens Council a levy to cover the cost of road repairs needed by excessive truck movements to and from this proposed facility?
CONCLUSION
Hunter Koala Preservation Society Inc recommends that the AGL facility at Tomago is a major hazard and should be denied. Further investigating is due by the complexities of the possible contamination of the Tomago aquifer and the threat to Port Stephens Koala population which is seriously declining.
The loss of Tomago Sand beds habitat will have an enormous negative effect on the flora and fauna of the Port Stephens area.

I object to this whole project

I unequivocally object to the Newcastle Gas Storage Facility at Tomago.

The site in question has boundaries on two sides of the Hunter environmental protection water catchment.

We are aware that through contractors who have worked extensively in the area in regards to Water specifically that the ground water in the sand bed protected area has an average depth of around one meter from the surface. This is listed as the reserve potable water for the Newcastle area.

The current water table under this reserve (on the border of the water catchment area) is extremely likely to be under the industrial area as well as the Airport Site (refer Figure 1).

The Kurragang Island in the middle of the Hunter River is home to the Orica Industrial site approximately 2.5km away which manufactures products used in mining explosives and fertilizers. Nitric Acid, Frozen Ammonia and other chemicals are made with the help of a natural gas pipeline around 300mm coming from Victoria.

Newcastle is subject to earthquakes. The last earthquake killed from memory 13 people. Earthquakes are also associated with Mining activities (including coal and other minerals) and Coal Seam Gas. Kalgoorlie is a case in point where there are numerous tremors associated with mining. National Geographic has pinned the Earthquake suffered by Newcastle as being related to Coal Mining. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/01/070103-mine-quake.html. Coal Seam Gas is also directly associated with earthquake activity as recently experienced twice in Blackpool, UK. Mining and Coal Seam Gas activity is increasing along the Eastern Seabord.

It is foreseeable that another earthquake can happen, be it from human or natural means. It is also possible that a tsunami or other natural disaster may impact the area as has happened recently in Japan. Under climate change there are increasing disaster extremes - more than felt in any time in recent history. The mixture of quantities of highly inflammable gas with chemicals creates the opportunity for a manmade disaster – due to planning negligence that is unparralled in our States or even our nation’s history.

The site also becomes a major terrorism target.

I wish to submit my objection to this proposal. I will be submitting further details asap.

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