The United Nations Special Rapporteur, Dr Marcus Orellana, has agreed to meet with the Future Sooner group and interested community members on August 29 to discuss concerns over the environmental effects of coal ash dams in the region.
Future Sooner spokesperson Gary Blaschke said the group was pleased Orellana had agreed to the meeting.
“The UN considers the health issues that people on the Central Coast have to endure from coal-fired power stations like Vales Point and their ash dams important enough to allocate half a day from his busy schedule to come (and) talk to the community,” Blaschke said.
“The Central Coast has one major industry – coal fired power stations.
“Yet we have an abnormal number of lung diseases and cancers.
“This includes children as young as three years old with brain tumours and teenagers with spinal tumours.
“Along with Future Sooner, Environmental Justice Australia (EJA) and the Hunter Community Environment Centre (HCEC) will present their findings.
“There will also time for a Q&A.
“We’ll be covering everything from the air pollution to cancers, toxins in Lake Macquarie and the fish kill, exemption licences for coal-fired power stations and what it means to the community.”
Blaschke said Future Sooner hopes the UN visit will galvanise the NSW government into implementing the 16 recommendations of the Coal Ash Inquiry (March 2021).
“They promised to do so (but) so far, have done nothing,” he said.
“This is an important event for the residents of the Central Coast.
“We encourage everyone to come along to meet the UN (representative) and take this opportunity to tell their story.”
The meeting will be held at Chain Valley Community Hall from 1-3.30pm on Tuesday, August 29.
Verified source: Future Sooner