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Premier time to stand up to coal companies - scrap industry port expansion plan
Monday 15 June 2009
The Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has called on Premier Nathan Rees to bring in a moratorium on the expansion of the Newcastle coal port following today's report that the coal loading facilities will be raised by a few metres and a massive buffer built in response to predicted climate change sea level rise. (Sydney Morning Herald, 15 June, 2009, page 4)
"The coal industry is out of control. Their response to sea level rise
is to change their port design so coal exports can be increased," Ms
Rhiannon said.
"The Premier needs to find some backbone and stand up to the coal
industry.
"He should start by telling the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group,
the backers of the $900 million coal port expansion, that the project
cannot proceed.
"Some of the world*s biggest greenhouse polluters, BHP Billiton,
Peabody Energy and Felix Resources are part of the Newcastle Coal
Infrastructure Group.
"Coal is a major climate change culprit. Today's report underlines
the need for the NSW government to fast track a 'just transition' plan
that reins in the coal industry while boosting green energy.
"The planned coal port expansion is robbing traditional coal
communities like the Hunter of sustainable jobs growth in green energy
delivery and manufacturing. Many more jobs can be created in renewable
energy and energy efficiency projects for the domestic and export
markets compared with the coal industry.
"The current plan to raise the height of the port by two to three
metres and reinforce it with three million cubic metres of sediment from
the Hunter River should not be allowed to proceed.
"These giant coal companies are highly irresponsible. Their plan to
bolster coal-loading facilities from sea level rises is the ultimate in
greed.
"Chasing profits in this way should not be allowed.
"The government were warned about the impact of climate change,
particularly in the Hunter region, when the Planning Department set up
an expert panel to examine this project, in 2006," Ms Rhiannon said.
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