MOD 2 Ash Recycling Facilities

Coal ash cannot be safely stored. Studies of the sediment in Lake Macquarie has found significant levels of harmful toxins that have leaked from the ash dams. They have not been built to protect groundwater and should not be expanded. As Environmental Justice Australia reports " All the publicly available environmental assessments for the Eraring ash dump, including the current application for its expansion, assume groundwater contamination will occur". Their recommendations, which I support, is that Origin Energy should be made to remove existing coal ash to a purpose built site that is actually safe, and then comprehensively rehabilitate the current dam sites. The community there deserves to be protected from future pollution.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I have been an engineer/manager responsible for pumping over 120,000t of Eraring ash as a coal mine backfill grout when previously employed at Bulk Flyash Grout
I currently own and operate machinery to mix and pump fly ash grouts into coal mines as GEM Projects.

I engineered and project managed a $1.25M pilot project to harvest Swanbank dam ash to pump into Collingwood Park underground coal mine without blending with cement. This was done with DEEDI, CSIRO, SMEC, UNSW, SCT. My original geotechnical test vessel which I filled with uncemented fly ash is currently on Eraring site I believe.

I currently am unable to put unbound (no cement) fly ash into underground coal mines under EPA rules in NSW and QLD, and I believe this should be changed to be allowed where it is proven otherwise.

I did a study tour in Europe in 2008 where I witnessed millions of tonnes of ash being injected into old underground workings. This was legally enforced by governments in Poland, Germany and Italy but the cost (which was fairly relatively small) paid coal mining and PowerStation industry. There were insitu groundwater studies done which found no adverse issues with ash toxins, which I believe is because either the pozzolanic nature of ash, or alkalinity or a reaction with coal’s carbon. This includes groundwater assessment of underground ash deposit of waste-to-energy incinerator ash which is 10x more toxic than Eraring ash. I did not worry about collecting this evidence at this time in 2008 as this was legal in Australia at the time. In hindsight I wish I had collected this scientific data and would like to go back and collect this evidence.

I observe that Eraring ash dam is over the top of old underground coal workings therefore I would to propose an idea.

I would love to apply my engineering, knowledge, equipment within GEM Projects to conduct a trial to demonstrate and prove at Eraring, with oversight by EPA. This pilot would consist of GEM pumping Eraring ash at high volumes into underground working with minimal surface disturbance (maybe boreholes at >100m spacing). I believe this study will scientifically enable the underground disposal of 100x more ash than currently envisaged. I believe the pilot should observe that the high porosity of coal means that stability of ground water pressures are unaffected, and my hypothesis about toxin immobilisation can be proven.

I have imported technology unproven in Australia from Europe where it was established practice before. In 2008 to 2010 I project managed the development of underground disposal of coal coarse chitter waste and tailings in pumped and reticulated underground coal mine. The objective was eliminating all surface tailings and waste piles on an underground coal mine via underground disposal. This started with flying raw materials from Australia to Germany for lab trials under my supervision, then repeating trials in University of Newcastle, then building a pilot plant at Metropolitan Colliery and finally a full-scale plant capable of 100,000tpa. This project took 2 years and $2.5M in capital and was successful.

Regards,
Tim Gilroy
Director and Engineer
GEM Projects
0417725959

While the improvement of the coal ash dam is useful, the continued dumping of coal ash will continue to create problems for the local community and the local fauna located within the adjacent lakes. Heavy metals are leeching into the lakes and contaminating the fish and crabs. As such, I object to this proposal and wish to see that the coal ash is removed to be used as concrete aggregate with no more coal ash dumped at this site.

Modification Report: Ash Recycling Facilities Eraring Power Station: 20 August 2021
Sections: 3.4.2/3.4.4
Submission: WANGI WANGI BRANCH ALP [minutes of this branch indicate this subject matter has been ongoing for many years with no support from Lake Macquarie Councillors, Council Traffic Management, or the State or Federal members representing Lake Macquarie]
The proposals outlined in the Modification Report are a true reflection of the corporate policies of Origin Energy and their dismissive attitude to the large residential component that this industry daily effects with noise, dust, emissions, heavy vehicles, and continued pollution of Lake Macquarie. No excuse is made for this negative and highly emotive reaction from those forced to endure Origin Energy’s boardroom apathy, or the seemingly political compliance from those elected to enhance and protect Lake Macquarie residential amenity.
If this increased- and current- ash haulage proceeds without a Traffic Management Scheme that directs all heavy vehicles to the M1 it will be an indictment against those we naively considered would hold Origin Energy to account and expose their true environmental credentials which are no more than glossy outpourings from consultants whose daily lives are not effected by Origin Energy. Padded with colourful data and graphs to prove how environmentally conscious Origin Energy are to their neighbours when it is all a farce to prolong the life of a polluting ash dam predicated to collapse in an earthquake.
It is brought to the government’s authorising body’s attention that Origin Energy in the past have promised [or a more appropriate term inferred] that toxic ash removal from Eraring Power Station would if large increases in volumes warranted would recommission the exit/entry ramp off the Private Coal Haul Road at Toronto West, subsequently directing all heavy vehicles to the M1. This would eliminate heavy vehicles accessing Wangi Road, Rocky Point Road Eraring, Awaba, Toronto, Dora Creek, Morisset. This promise has proven false.

That Origin Energy can propose to inflict upon Toronto, Awaba, Dora Creek, Eraring, Morisset, hundreds of heavy vehicles hauling toxic ash seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day should be condemned outright by Lake Macquarie residential and those we seek to represent us. Its road haulage segment rejected in its entirety by Planning and Environment.

It is the height of absurdity that Origin Energy’s preferred route is a 40-tonne limited wooden bridge currently accessed by B-doubles twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, Awaba a tiny residential settlement. A choke point at Rocky Point Road Eraring, hundreds of heavy vehicles passing through residential areas, high intensity commercial, schools [2]. Is this scenario what Origin Energy considers being a good neighbour, hauling toxic waste throughout Lake Macquarie? Origin Energy have proven in the past Lake Macquarie is secondary to corporate policy, the proof positive of this environmental nightmare about to be inflicted upon Lake Macquarie.

We are now led to believe after thirty years of stockpiling toxic ash in an unlined dam over old mine workings, one of the deadliest substances on the planet, a beneficial use has been found. Recently witnessing it being dumped on a riparian zone of a creek running directly into Lake Macquarie to be told it had no effect on life but never eat more than a kilo and a half of fish from the lake. We are now informed there is no better product for road building than toxic ash, even perceived with some processing a possible fertiliser on the farm. Are we so gullible to swallow it is no more than making money and extending the life of a suspect dam already seeping deadly toxins into Lake Macquarie?
Origin Energy state it will cost $12.5 million to reopen the Toronto West ramp and direct the millions of tonnes of toxic ash to the M1 [turning lane, lighting, security cameras, gates, signage, asphalt]. This figure is disputed and its final cost to Origin Energy with what is available to them as a corporate body would prove the M1 route the best outcome for all parties.
Wangi Road is already saturated with 13,000 traffic movements daily, dismissed by Origin Energy ash haulage increasing this by a mere 2.5%. This branch of the ALP and concerned residents of Lake Macquarie request that toxic ash haulage throughout Lake Macquarie cease until Origin Energy directs all haulage to the M1. That Origin Energy convene a public meeting to present their environmental credentials to that gathering and how it is beneficial to haul millions of tonnes of toxic ash past their homes and schools.
In closing it is brought to the attention of all concerned in this impending environmental travesty that the Newcastle Herald [07/10/2021] reported the abandoning of a scheme by Centennial Coal- a supplier of coal to Eraring Power Station- to road haul one million tonnes of blending coal via Wilton Road and Wangi Road to Myuna Colliery. Proof there are those in the community who will challenge needless heavy haulage on their roads if an alternative route is available. Origin Energy and their consultants should take notice, but from past knowledge, that is doubted.
Submitted by the Wangi Wangi Branch Australian Labor Party. [Wayne Ward 12 Eucalypt Close Wangi, NSW 2267]
[email protected] 02 4975 4722

The ash is an air, land and water pollutant and should be safely removed from Lake Macquarie.
Coal mining and the burning of the coal to produce energy must be rapidly phased out to address global warming.
No extension. Closure.

As a local resident I object to this proposal as it would result in having hundreds of heavy vehicles hauling toxic ash seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day.
Aspects I am concerned about include noise, dust, emissions, heavy vehicles, and the continued pollution of Lake Macquarie.
Additionally there has been inadequate consultation with the local community for a proposal of this magnitude.
Thank you for the opportunity to lodge this objection.

Please find attached comments on the proposed modification MP07_0084-Mod-2.

Thank you again for the opportunity to provide comment on the modification. Should you require any further information do not hesitate to ask.

Regards
Glen Mathews

I support the project in general but object to the proposal to increase heavy vehicle traffic along the Westlakes road system as outlined in the attached submission

As attachment

As attachment

It is important that the ash is reused in a way that locks in up, from leeching into ecosystems in the best practice way possible. The transport of the ash or resulting materials should not negatively impact the local or any communities that are to be in the area of the transport operations.

The reason for our objection to the project is for the traffic management issues. We are in support of more coal-ash being used and the possibility of new industries employing locals to reuse it and remediate the Eraring coal-ash dam site. It would be best for these industries to be onsite to, again, reduce truck movements.

The extra truck movements, a potential 120% increase, planned for this development should not travel on Wangi Road, State Road B53, for all the same traffic management reasons the Centennial Coal haulage DA to road haul coal to and from their Myuna Colliery was rejected.

All the dangerous intersections on Wangi Road from the Eraring Power Station on and off ramps at Wangi Road to the south via Dora Creek or to the north via Myuna Bay are of concern.

The 2 close intersections on Wangi Road at Donnelly Road and Buttaba Hills Road where high road speed zones, low visibility and merging lanes are a nightmare for some drivers.

Also, the heavily congested Dora Creek intersection of Wangi Road and Dora St (upgrade in planning now) where a 300+ lot housing development has started nearby off Gradwells Road, Dora Creek.

The proposed increased truck movements through an already heavily congested main street, Dora St, at Morisset will have an adverse impact also.

We offer 2 solutions;

1. Origin could expand their infrastructure and link the coal-ash project to the nearby rail which already transports coal to their site.

Ideally, industry could be set up and the coal-ash processed on site at Eraring. This could significantly reduce truck movements.

2. Why not eliminate or dramatically reduce the risk of road accidents and have the coal-ash transported from on-site by road infrastructure to the Newstan-Eraring Private Coal Road then onto Wilton Road, then Cessnock Road and onto the M1. This could cater for both north and south truck movements.

This option would have negative impacts on other intersections but, we believe, there would be an overall benefit.

Of course, there could be a private haulage road built all the way to Cessnock Road or even the M1.

My objection is to the length of time for submissions and that an extension be granted. I only found out about this project last week and today there was a story on the Newcastle Herald saying today was the last day for submissions.

The 2 week submission window is completely inadequate. The loss of our local community newspapers, where these Major Projects have been advertised in the past, were the conduit for communicating with the community. They are now gone.

The Minister granted an extension for this very reason on the recently rejected Centennial Coal coal haulage project at their Myuna Colliery. The community did not know about it. After the extension was granted there were many submissions against the coal proposal. Our local State MP Greg Piper called it a “victory for the community”, and that only happened because we got the extension.

I ask that an extension be granted so the community can have their say.

Dear Sir/Madam,
I attended Morisset High School in the 1970's and I continue to have a interest in the health of our Lake Macquarie. Eraring Ash Dam is too big and needs to be removed quickly to minimise pollution to our Lake. Eraring Power Station needs to do a lot more with its recycling efforts and achieve much higher recycling rates than 100% ( to remove legacy ash waste from the Ash Dam.) Maybe the State Government should impose the same Land Levy Fee on Eraring Power Station that other tips pay when disposing waste in land fills to encourage a better recycling rate.
Regards,
Kevin Thompson

I object to MOD 2 Ash Recycling Facilities on the following grounds:
The increase in truck movements both northbound & southbound pose unacceptable risks to our community.
While I approve of the reuse of the coal-ash & welcome the new industries that could be created from it's reuse & the enabling of a 'just transition' for local coal & mining industry workers, trucking the coal-ash along our public roads is not the way!
I believe setting up industries on site would be of a much greater benefit to the surrounding communities but, if the coal-ash has to be removed off site, why does it have to be along our roads & through our communities? For example, the congestion seen along Wangi Rd at Dora St in Dora Creek & Dora St through Morisset are already significant problems for local residents, adding 120% more trucks per day is unacceptable. Too many trucks & their potential danger & pollution issues were why the Centennial Coal haulage DA to road haul coal to and from their Myuna Colliery was recently rejected.
There are alternatives available & they should be the 1st considerations of this project before the local public roads are used. Link the project directly to the rail line, use the private coal road for all trucks & join onto Wilton Rd towards the M1 or extend the private road to the M1 itself perhaps.
I don't have all the answers but I do know that driving 400 coal trucks daily through our local communities is not the answer that is needed.

I oppose this preposterous proposal to double the amount of truck movements from Origin energy coal combustion products on local roads on the grounds of Road Safety,Health impacts and legality of its current and past operation.
As a local resident of almost 40 years I have witnessed the destruction of a once quiet backwater hamlet turn into one of the most polluted,noisiest,dangerous and unlivable townships in Australia.
Road Safety.
The main rd at Dora Creek is unsuitable for heavy trucks let alone b doubles due to the illegal crossing of double lines by trucks to safely navigate the bend onto the DC bridge on many occasions as a bus passenger in my school years we would lose a mirror to a truck on that bend how we didn't collide is beyond me .To this day I dread seeing a truck on coming to the bridge.
There is no footpaths on Wamsley st.So when it rains pedestrians have to walk on the rd and navigate on coming traffic.so much fun!
The railway fencing on the southern side of Bridge is unsuitable.Last year a 4wd smashed through this fence landing upside down on railway tracks.Lets see if a flyash truck will come out on top of a 80 wagon coal train!mmm
Muddy lake bridge has no southbound footpath or cycleway.risk being hit by cars doing 100kl/h downhill.Althouth bridge was recently upgraded for heavier vehicles.great priorities!
Reduce exhaust brake use in residential areas sign is lacking.
Health Impacts
The cumulative effects of new coal mines and the power station have had an enormous impact on residents.in one street 5 residents had the same disease lymphoma.coincidence?As I have witnessed most workers in the electricity game do not drive electric vehicles rather 4 out 5 cars are turbo diesels which have along with the sulphur and nitrogen emissions created negative health impact.so let's add some more diesel guzzling vehicles to our already choked air.not to mention coal trains all hours of the night.the symphony of coal trains coal ash trucks and diesel 4 wheel drives should make our suburb a no 1 destination for Sydneysiders looking for the "quiet life".Unfortunately I have run out of time and ask do we really live in a DEMOCRACY when I find out about such a impacting development on the last day of submissions.please advise by letter about such proposals!!!

I wish to OBJECT to the proposal.

As a local resident I object to this proposal as it would result in having hundreds of heavy vehicles hauling toxic ash seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day.

Aspects I am concerned about include noise, dust, emissions, heavy vehicles, and the continued pollution of Lake Macquarie.

Thank you for the opportunity to lodge this objection.

I wish to OBJECT to the proposal.

As a local resident I object to this proposal as it would result in having hundreds of heavy vehicles hauling toxic ash seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day.

Aspects I am concerned about include noise, dust, emissions, heavy vehicles, and the continued pollution of Lake Macquarie.

Thank you for the opportunity to lodge this objection.

Name of Application: Eraring Power Station Ash Dam Expansion Modification 2 Application Number: MP07_0084-Mod-2

I wish to OBJECT to the proposal.
As a local resident I object to this proposal as it would result in having hundreds of heavy vehicles hauling toxic ash seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day.
Aspects I am concerned about include noise, dust, emissions, heavy vehicles, and the continued pollution of Lake Macquarie.
Thank you for the opportunity to lodge this objection.
I have not made a reportable political donation (more than $1,000) in the past two years.

Madeline Bishop
3 Fourth St Booragul.

Name of Application: Eraring Power Station Ash Dam Expansion Modification 2
Application Number: MP07_0084-Mod-2

I wish to OBJECT to the proposal.

As a local resident I object to this proposal as it would result in having hundreds of heavy vehicles hauling toxic ash seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day.

Aspects I am concerned about include noise, dust, emissions, heavy vehicles, and the continued pollution of Lake Macquarie.

Thank you for the opportunity to lodge this objection.

I have not made a reportable political donation (more than $1,000) in the past two years.

Name: John Pritchard
Address: 13 Kenley Close Blackalls Park NSW 2283