Nominations called for coal ash advisory committee

Lake Macquarie and Lake Munmorah residents and groups are encouraged to take part in a new advisory committee set up to help inform the NSW Government’s remediation of sites containing coal ash repositories.

The government is establishing the committee to support its response to the ‘NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into costs for remediation of sites containing coal ash repositories.

In response to the Inquiry’s recommendations, NSW Health has commissioned a review of environmental data to determine whether people living close to power stations and coal ash dams are exposed to potentially harmful chemicals through air, water, soil or local fish and seafood.

The committee will allow open discussions between NSW Health and representatives of the local community, stakeholder groups and local councils on the potential health impacts of coal ash.

NSW Health is seeking applications from community members and those from local civic, professional and environmental groups to apply to join the committee.

Committee members will contribute to committee discussions, attend around four meetings a year and help communicate information about the coal ash study to the broader community

Those interested can obtain a nomination form by contacting independent Chair of the Community Advisory Committee David Ross at David.Ross@phoenixstrategic.com.au.

Nominations close on December 6.

“This new committee will allow us to gain a deeper understanding of the impacts of coal ash deposits on communities in Lake Macquarie and Lake Munmorah,” Minister for the Central Coast David Harris said.

“I encourage interested residents in those areas to take this opportunity to donate their time and expertise to find a way forward to clean up these sites for the lasting benefit of their communities.”