BY JESSICA ROUSE
The Tighes Hill
Community Group have written to the Port of Newcastle asking for Port Waratah
Coal Services' (PWCS) Carrington Coal loader not to extend it's lease after
2024.
The loader has a
licensed capacity of 25 million tonnes of coal per annum, and the group say it
is an inappropriate location for such a high impact industry.
The PWCS recently
celebrated the 40th anniversary of the loader, committing to a $60 million upgrade
of the Carrington loader, much to the disappointment of the community group.
Tighes Hill
Community Group Secretary Charlotte McCabe says the proximity of the loader to
homes and families as well as the impact on their health is very unsafe.
"For many
many years we have been raising concerns around the coal dust and the impacts
we feel that's having on the health of people - particularly the children and
the elderly living in the area - and obviously we've got concerns about climate
change and we think this is an industry that needs to begin transitioning, and
the end of this lease is the perfect time for that to happen."
The group say the
anniversary is an excellent opportunity for port to show its commitment to a
better, cleaner future for Newcastle, rather than an upgrade to the loader.
