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Ms LEE RHIANNON [6.45 p.m.]: The anger about the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment Bill, which passed through all its stages last night, continues. I want to share with members excerpts from a letter that was sent to me by the Lithgow Environment Group. The group states:
Lithgow Environment Group (LEG) is very concerned about the direction planning legislation in NSW is heading.
The letter continues:
We believe any further weakening of already inadequate planning legislation in the hands of just one Minister will only exacerbate an already chronic situation in the Lithgow region.
Of particular concern is the lemma Government's subversion of democratic process and abuse of planning powers by imposing projects of State Significance on councils with weak planning instruments, such as the Lithgow City Council area.
In the last 12 months the Lithgow region has had to contend with nine (9) projects of State Significance, without any real public consultation, and in the absence of any Strategic Plans, REP's, LEP's or any other planning instruments to underpin these major decisions.
These projects include a Minimum Security Jail, the Modification (read expansion) of Mount Piper Power Station, Newne's Sand Mine, two (2) underground mine proposals, three (3) open-cut mine proposals, and the Emirates Resort in Wolgan Valley.
Minister Sartor's approval last week of a huge sand quarry at Newne's Junction pre-empts the findings of Sydney Construction Materials Strategy (SCMS), Gardens of Stone Proposal Stage 2, and wishes of the Lithgow community who are currently developing their first ever Strategic Plan for the Lithgow region for the next 20 years.
The letter goes on:
Minister Tripodi advertised modification of Mount Piper power station on 12 January 2006, in the middle of the school holidays. Lithgow residents were given just 2 weeks until 30 January 2006 to respond. It involves modifying a DA approved way back in 1982, when environmental standards were far more lax than today, and when local and global conditions were far different than today.
It will result in a 23% increase in production, 23% increase in greenhouse emissions, 1.7 million tonnes/year of dirtier coal burnt and hauled past our doors, an extra 1.54 million tonnes/year of fly-ash, 8 ML/year more brine with a very high salt content of 10,000mg/kg, and a 23% increase in water drawn from the once mighty Cox's River catchment, which is already in crisis.
Yet after the 14 week modification period, Delta will not create a single extra job to run the plant.
Justice Minister Tony Kelly continues to talk-up the minimum security prison project in the media as though it was a "done deal". Yet he has never consulted the local community. Not a single member of LEG has ever met a local resident who is in favour of this proposal. Yet our Labor member and Labor dominated Council continue to pretend the project has local support.
Further, the letter states:
The most appalling example of abuse of planning powers by both Local and State government in the Lithgow region is currently being played out in the small township of Blackman's Flat.
The residents of Blackman's Flat are currently facing four (4) projects of State Significance (Pine Dale open-cut mine; Extension of Lambert's Gully open-cut mine; Extension of Angus Place Colliery; and Modification of Mount Piper Power Station) PLUS a fifth project—Lithgow City Council's proposed Solid Waste Landfill. All are less than a kilometre from homes.
The letter continues:
Blackman's Flat township is now totally surrounded by hazardous and offensive industry, including Delta Mount Piper's massive fly-ash dams, open-cut mines, coal-fines Briquette plants, even the EPA is dumping hazardous waste on mining land in town under the WARR Act.
The letter concludes:
We have seen no evidence that development in NSW has slowed to the point that justifies such major changes to the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979. On the contrary, development in the Lithgow region, especially State Significant development, is out of control.
The Government would be wise to listen to groups such as the Lithgow Environment Group. Lithgow should not be used as a dumping ground any longer.
Motion agreed to.
The House adjourned at 6.50 p.m. until Thursday 30 March 2006 at 11.00 a.m.
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