Close coal-powered power stations now, says Future Sooner

The permanent closure of coal-fired power stations and the clean-up of coal ash dams and PFAS-contaminated land must commence immediately, says community group Future Sooner.

The group says the NSW Government has all the evidence it needs to know urgent action is required and there is no more time for talk about a rapid transition to clean energy.

“The community needs some proof that their concerns are being heard and some decisive action is planned by the Minns government,” Future Sooner spokesperson, Dr Ian Charlton said.

“That is why we are calling on local state MPs and the Minister for the Central Coast to stand in solidarity with their constituents to shut down the power stations and clean up their contaminated sites.”

“Five long years after the NSW parliamentary inquiry into coal ash dams, NSW Health – not the EPA as recommended – has recently created the NSW Coal Ash and Health Community Advisory Committee to investigate the findings of its own 2020 Coal Ash Inquiry.

“This is merely a box ticking exercise that even bypasses the recommendation for an ‘independent assessment’ by appointing a NSW Health employee to do a study without proper consultation.

“We do not believe another committee to examine the recommendations made by a five-year-old inquiry is the solution to the community’s mounting concerns.

“Must we wait a further 12-24 months for the completion of any sort of health assessment of residents near coal ash dams (Recommendation Six from the 2020 inquiry)?

“And while we’re waiting, must we watch hundreds more young families move into affordable new housing estates near contaminated waste sites without even knowing these dangers exist?”

Future Sooner says the health evidence is laid out in the Citizens’ Inquiry Final Report, Untold Stories.

The report contains page after page of residents’ stories supported by scientific evidence including NSW and Federal Government data.

“Surely, given this evidence, local MPs and the Minister for the Central Coast David Harris must be concerned for the health of their constituents,” Charlton said.

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“That concern must also extend to the young families being so publicly encouraged to purchase affordable housing within these polluted environments.”

Future Sooner has written to Harris, requesting that he personally makes a stand for his community.

“We’ve reminded the Minister that it was former Labor MPs for Wyong, Paul Crittenden, and The Entrance, Grant McBride, who thwarted the expansion of the coal industry around Wyong and Tuggerah,” Charlton said.

“We have asked Minister Harris to make a public commitment to do everything in his control to ensure recommendations from the 2020 inquiry are delivered before the March 2027 state election.

“We have requested that Minister Harris, who was unable to attend the launch of our final report even on a sitting day at NSW Parliament, meets with a delegation of representatives from Future Sooner within the next 12 weeks to discuss the findings and recommendations in Untold Stories.

“We repeat our recommendation that the NSW Government commits to a moratorium on all proposed and current residential developments within a 20km radius of coal-fired power stations, existing ash dams and the officially contaminated land at Munmorah.

“Mr Harris and his colleagues are facing their own election in March 2027 – less than two years from now – and we think it is time for action.

“We hope to be able to report a positive response from the Minister for the Central Coast.

“Meanwhile, our Untold Stories Roadshow is underway with five local groups already inviting Future Sooner members to present our findings.

“We also encourage members of the public to engage with their state MPs if they share our concerns.”