Coast a dangerous place to live, says interim report

An interim report from a Citizens’ Inquiry into the health impacts of coal-fired power stations conducted recently at Budgewoi has found that the Central Coast and Lake Macquarie are dangerous places to live, work and raise children.

Conducted by the community environmental group Future Sooner, the Inquiry saw residents share stories about suffering chronic health conditions including asthma, cardiovascular disease and cancers that they attributed to living close to coal-fired power stations.

They told the Inquiry they were tired of their fears being ignored by politicians, regulators and operators.

“A panel of experts heard testimony to the Inquiry from more than a dozen local residents concerned by the high rates of asthma, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and a range of other illnesses that were affecting them, family members, friends and even their pet dogs,” Inquiry Chair Dr Ian Charlton said.

“The panel also received just on 20 submissions from individuals and organisations concerned about the toxic emissions that are polluting the air, soil and water, including underground water.

“The failure of governments to fulfil their duty to protect their citizens was a common theme of witness testimony and the submissions received.

“The panel was told by residents that even their doctors have advised that what comes out of the coal-fired power stations is dangerous to people’s health.”

The report says government failure is often combined with corporate malfeasance.

It says the panel found there was evidence of governmental disregard for the health of its citizens and a parallel disregard by the owners of the coal-fired power stations.

Residents told stories of how ash dust from coal ash dams swirled across the road, of wiping ash off surfaces and of watching planes dump a blue-green solution onto the Vales Point Power Station ash dam.

The Citizens Inquiry is seeking answers from the NSW Government, MPs and the Environmental Protection Authority on what they are prepared to undertake to protect citizens’ health.

A final report from the Citizens’ Inquiry, with recommendations, will be released in the first quarter of 2025.