A draft submission will be prepared by Central Coast Council to the review of the Environment Protection Licences of the Eraring and Vales Point Power Stations, following a unanimous vote of Councillors on Monday, November 27.
Councillors voted to request the CEO, Gary Murphy, to prepare a draft submission to the review including requesting the NSW Government to set pollution limits consistent with world’s best practice. They also asked Murphy to write to the NSW Environment Minister, Gabrielle Upton, seeking an expansion of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) Air Pollution Monitoring Network, to include two or three additional Air Monitoring Stations in the vicinity of the power stations.
The request to Minister Upton will be that the location of the new stations be determined in collaboration with Central Coast and Lake Macquarie Councils, and the effected communities. Council will also request that Air Pollution Monitoring data be made readily available to the community. Murphy will also request that the EPA provide a briefing to Councillors in June, 2019, on the results of monitoring activities in relation to PFAS, ash dams and air pollution.
The EPA will also be asked to provide an annual update, including a map, on areas identified as likely to be affected by PFAS contamination, monitoring activities, and results of that monitoring. Councillors also voted to request the CEO to write to NSW Health Minister, Brad Hazzard, for clarification of the adverse risk of PFAS in all pathways (surface water, soil, air etc) and to request a report on how the companies dealt with PFAS and asbestos on the Colongra and Snowy Hydro sites, as well as a Rural Fire Service site.
Source: Agenda item 3.8, Nov 27 Central Coast Council ordinary meeting Jackie Pearson, journalist