Singleton Council
Comment
Singleton Council
Comment
Water Group
Comment
Water Group
Comment
,
Message
DPIE Water and NRAR response attached for your review and action.
Attachments
Muswellbrook Shire Council
Comment
Muswellbrook Shire Council
Comment
,
Message
Submission from Muswellbrook Shire Council
Attachments
Biodiversity and Conservation Division
Comment
Biodiversity and Conservation Division
Comment
NEWCASTLE
,
New South Wales
Message
BCD's comments are attached.
Attachments
Danielle Wheeler
Object
Danielle Wheeler
Object
WILBERFORCE
,
New South Wales
Message
NSW has a very poor record of ash dam management. The application should not proceed until the the NSW Upper House Inquiry into coal ash has concluded and the report made public. Nor should any further work be undertaken without full consideration of the liabilities of coal ash contamination and cleanup. A recent SO52 in NSW Parliament showed high levels of heavy metal contamination at all ash dams including Bayswater. Its is unclear how the applicant will guarantee public safety and environmental protections, or how the community can benefit. Reuse methods and markets are unclear. While safe reuse may be commendable if done well, this application does not provide sufficient information to determine if that is the case.
Annie Nielsen
Object
Annie Nielsen
Object
WINSTON HILLS
,
New South Wales
Message
1.The Environmental Impact Statement in its current form is incomplete and as it currently stands is lacking key information for a consent authority to make a decision. The EIS fails to:
• describe the hydrogeology of the project area which is crucial to approval. This will inform detail of groundwater flows, recharge areas and discharge areas.
• define aquifers in the area that could be affected by the industrial operations and coal ash disposal practices.
As a result, the EIS fails to assess the full implications of ongoing coal ash disposal in the repository. Given that the EP&A Act has specific requirements around what an EIS should include, the Department should evaluate the compliance of this EIS with the Act.
2.More transparency is required around coal ash reuse
The EIS proposes an ambitious target for coal ash reuse, seeking to recycle 1 million tonnes of coal ash. While coal ash reuse is a good thing, the ambitiousness of the proposed reuse rate is concerning. as there is little market demand for coal ash.
Without a strong market for coal ash reuse, AGL must provide transparency regarding what will happen to coal ash in the case it cannot be reused. A thorough reuse and disposal plan will assure the community and the Department that this enormous amount of coal ash will not be dumped in abandoned mine pits. Coal ash is toxic and if not carefully disposed of can contaminate air, soil and water.
• describe the hydrogeology of the project area which is crucial to approval. This will inform detail of groundwater flows, recharge areas and discharge areas.
• define aquifers in the area that could be affected by the industrial operations and coal ash disposal practices.
As a result, the EIS fails to assess the full implications of ongoing coal ash disposal in the repository. Given that the EP&A Act has specific requirements around what an EIS should include, the Department should evaluate the compliance of this EIS with the Act.
2.More transparency is required around coal ash reuse
The EIS proposes an ambitious target for coal ash reuse, seeking to recycle 1 million tonnes of coal ash. While coal ash reuse is a good thing, the ambitiousness of the proposed reuse rate is concerning. as there is little market demand for coal ash.
Without a strong market for coal ash reuse, AGL must provide transparency regarding what will happen to coal ash in the case it cannot be reused. A thorough reuse and disposal plan will assure the community and the Department that this enormous amount of coal ash will not be dumped in abandoned mine pits. Coal ash is toxic and if not carefully disposed of can contaminate air, soil and water.