Toukley-based Northern Lakes Disability Tourism Precinct (NLDTP) has asked the NSW Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for answers to questions about ash dams within the Vales Point Power Station.
Mr Gary Blaschke OAM, said he first contacted the EPA in late August 2016 to discuss concerns about the Vales Point ash dams and their potential to leach into surrounding catchments.
“The dams have been in existence since the 1960s with no linings, thus leaving the community needing some assurances that the dams pose no threat to human health or the environment in the region,” Mr Blaschke said.
“Delta Electricity, the previous owners of the power station, has already admitted that during high flow periods, the water from the dams overflows into Lake Macquarie,” he said.
Delta also breached their licensing conditions on six occasions, of which the EPA are well aware.”
According to Mr Blaschke, the ash dams, which are located on the opposite side of the Pacific Highway to Doyalson RSL, are “twice the size of Sydney’s Centennial Park.
“I believe they are leaching and the evidence of that leaching can be seen by the stand of dead trees at Doyalson that has been getting bigger and bigger,” he said.
The ash contained in the dams is a by-product of burning coal to produce electricity and is known to contain heavy metals including cadmium.
“The EPA replied that the trees died because of pooling from storm water affecting their root systems,” he said.
Vales Point is one of the largest coal-fired power stations in NSW and was sold for $1 million, in 2015, to Mr Trevor St Baker, and coal baron, Mr Brian Flannery, who formed Sunset Power International.
In January 2017, Mr Blaschke met with Ms Karen Marler, EPA’s Acting Director for the Hunter, and raised the issue of pooling of surface water and Delta’s response by planting more trees to screen the visual impact.
At that meeting, Ms Marler requested a list of specific issues and questions from the Precinct, which Mr Blascke sent to her, in writing, on March 6.
In his letter to Ms Marler, Mr Blaschke pointed out that an audit of the Vales Point Power Station in August 2016, identified that: “Not all required information was contained in the licensee’s pollution incident response management report”.
The audit also revealed that: “The approved methods for analysing water samples were not being used by the licensee’s laboratory”.
“Does this not sound the alarm bells that all samples are invalid because it contravenes a regulation, law or license?” Mr Blaschke asked.
He has asked the EPA to explain how it accepted the pollution incident response when it had missing information and had used invalid analysis of water samples.
The EPA has also been asked to provide information about how many times the former Delta Electricity exceeded their license requirements in the past decade.
He has requested an aerial photograph of the entire Ash Dam region.
“Has anyone overlaid any previous photographs to identify any erosion or breaching of the dam walls?” he asked.
Mr Blaschke has asked the EPA to clarify whether or not it has conducted environmental audits on all aspects of impact by the ash dams, including on the Tuggerah Lakes system.
He questioned the decision to plant 25 Eucalypts as a measure to address surface water pooling.
“Why not Melaleucas to better deal with surface water detention?” he asked.
“Has the EPA changed the license requirements since Sunset Power International P/L took ownership of the site and if so why?” was another question put to the EPA by the Precinct.
Mr Blaschke said he did not believe the strategy of capping the ash dams to 650mm was adequate and asked the EPA whether it agreed with that process.
He asked the EPA to supply a map identifying the monitoring points for Air, Surface water and Groundwater.
“It is identified in the Audit report that testing of most issues is done on a yearly basis,” Mr Blaschke said, questioning again whether or not the EPA considered that frequency adequate.
The EPA has also been asked to provide information about: what Environmental bonds or rehabilitation costs have been included in the license agreement for the entire site of Vales Point Power Station and its tailing dams; the results of seagrass monitoring over the past decade; and, hazardous substances exposed in all reports and processes.
The Northern Lakes Disability Tourism Precinct has also requested a meeting with the EPA and Sunset International Pty Ltd, the current owners of the Vales Point power station.
The community group also wants the EPA to conduct an onsite tour of the entire site for the community.
The Wyong Regional Chronicle has requested an interview with the EPA’s Ms Marler and has also sent written questions to Sunset Power International.
Letter,
Mar 6, 2017
Interview,
Mar 6, 2017
Gary Blaschke, Northern Lakes Disability Tourism Precinct
Jackie Pearson, journalist