Power station extension a health risk: Future Sooner

Future Sooner has slammed the NSW Government’s decision to delay the closure of Eraring power station for at least two years.

Spokesperson Gary Blaschke said for three years Origin Energy had been saying the facility would close by 2025.

“Suddenly, the deal between it and the Minns Government extending the life of Origin’s old polluting power station for a further two years was negotiated behind closed doors, totally ignoring the health issues facing residents of the Central Coast and the environment,” he said.

“More than 912,000 extra tonnes of coal ash will be dumped into Eraring’s unlined 45-year-old open ash dams over these two extra years.

“In the past 12 months, mercury emissions from Eraring soared by 130 per cent, PM2.5 fine particles increased by 88 per cent, PM10 particles by 16 per cent and sulphur-dioxide pollution rose by 15 per cent.

“Imagine what another two years will do to the health of residents.

“As pollution emissions rise so too do the diseases facing our local communities.

“Already people living on the Central Coast and Lake Macquarie suffer three or more chronic health conditions.

“In suburbs close to the power stations the number has reached 16.9 per cent of the population.

“To add insult to injury, Eraring enjoys another two years of profits past its use-by-date – and if it doesn’t make a profit, we the taxpayers, will hand over $225M every year to the company.

“If Origin does make a profit from Eraring’s extended life, it doesn’t have to share all its profits with the NSW Government.”

Blaschke said there have been no epidemiological, exposure assessments or health risk studies of the health of residents residing near coal ash dams, as recommended by the government’s own Coal Ash Inquiry.

“There is no plan to remediate the millions of tonnes of toxic coal ash stored in dams throughout NSW,” he said.

Future Sooner will hold a Citizens Inquiry on Sunday, August 25, and is calling on residents who have chronic health conditions to share their stories.

Submissions can be sent to futuresoonernsw@gmail.com

Premier Chris Minns said the Government didn’t have a choice after receiving a report from the national energy operator forecasting a gap in the state’s energy supply over the next three years.

“That was not a situation I was ever willing to risk,” he said.

“Labor has made a responsible call, which will keep our lights on across the state (and) protect households from higher energy bills, while giving us time to build the clean energy of the future.”

Minns said he was a big believer in renewable energy.

“Every day, more solar panels are being installed, more batteries are being plugged in, more wind farms are coming online,” he said.

“At the same time, we have a responsibility to support people as we take this journey.

“Nothing would undermine support for this transition faster than a spike in power prices, or a run of blackouts over summer.

“Extending the life of Eraring to cover these gaps is the right call in these circumstances.”

Terry Collins