Anti-Nuclear Lobby Group Produces Liddell Doomsday Fallout Scenario Map

 BY PETER HYSLOP

Lobby group Don't Nuke The Climate has produced detailed maps of what a Chernobyl-style accident would look like at a proposed Liddell site in the Hunter.

The Coalition has vowed to build a reactor at the former coal-fired power station, saying reliable base load power is needed.

Understood to be connected with climate action groups, the organisation says about 35,000 people would theoretically need to be evacuated in suburbs including Muswellbrook, Aberdeen, Singleton, Jerrys Plains and Denman.

Anti-nuclear campaigner Dr Jim Green says they've worked on detailed maps.

"On the website people can choose any of the seven proposed nuclear power sites and they can choose a wind direction and that will show the spread of radioactive fallout based on the Fukushima disaster," he said.

"So it gives a rough idea of the spread of radioactive fallout and also the concentration of fallout in different areas.

"Fukushima is an appropriate basis for this project primarily because it's an advanced industrial wealthy country like Australia is, and the reactors that they're proposing in Australia are much the same as the reactors that were in operation at the Fukushima disaster 14 years ago," he said.

 

Credit: Nuclearplume.au

Labor Rubbishes Coalition Nuclear Plans Following Inquiry Report

 BY PETER HYSLOP

Government ministers are lashing out at the Federal Opposition for their plan to install a nuclear reactor at the former Liddell Power station site.

A national inquiry into the suitability of the technology in Australia has found the cost to build sites is prohibitive, but the inquiry's being accused of being political.

The interim report cites leading experts.

Shortland MP Pat Conroy has made some firm comments about proponents of a Liddell site.

He says it's not viable.

"Peter Dutton's nuclear fantasy is a recipe for higher power prices, higher greenhouse gas emissions and more community uncertainty," he said.

"To put a nuclear power station in an earthquake zone is an act of lunacy," he said.

Shortland MP Pat Conroy visiting JFD Manufacturing today

Liddell Battery Given Green Light

BY JJ PILLAY 

The State's Planning department has approved the demolition of Liddell Power Station and replacing the site with a large scale battery complex. 

Construction of the battery is expected to begin in December 2025 according to operator AGL. It's designed to be a 500 megawatt, two hour duration grid scale battery. 

More than 95% of steel will be sourced locally, and more than 150 workers will be involved with the project at a cost of approximately 750 million dollars. 

The project will be the first new development built as a part of the Hunter Energy Hub after Liddell was retired in April 2023. 

It comes after the Coalition announced they would forcibly acquire the site for a nuclear power station if elected to Government.

Concept design of the battery. Credit: AGL

Fatal Crash Closes New England Highway At Muswellbrook

 BY IAN CROUCH 

One person is dead and another has been airlifted to hospital after a multi-vehicle crash near Muswellbrook.

Emergency services were called to the New England Highway at Liddell just before midnight on Tuesday to reports of a 3 vehicle crash.

Police say two cars collided before a truck later hit the vehicles.

They arrived to find a man deceased in one of the vehicles, while the 22-yea-old female driver of a second car was trapped before being freed and flown to the John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition.

The truck driver in his 40's was uninjured and taken to Muswellbrook Hospital for mandatory testing.

The Highway remains closed with diversions in place.

It's been a horror week on the region's roads, with a double fatality last Saturday at Denman and the death of a man in his 50's in a crash at Murulla north of Scone on Monday afternoon. 

PM Says 'No' To Nuclear At Liddell

 BY IAN CROUCH

The Prime Minister has ruled out building a small-scale nuclear reactor on the site of the Liddell power station near Muswellbrook.

Opposition Leader, Peter Dutton has come out in support of a call from the Nationals to build small nuclear power plants to help shore up power supply as coal-fired power is phased out.

Speaking at the opening of the Donald Horne building at Muswellbrook on Tuesday, Anthony Albanese told reporters nuclear energy is the slowest to put in place and the most expensive.

He says he's yet to see a financing proposal which makes nuclear power a viable alternative and Australia needs real solutions to address future energy needs.  

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Hunter MP Dan Repacholi at Muswellbrook on Tuesday. Picture Maitland Mercury

 

Energy woes continue as Liddell turbine taken offline

BY DAKOTA TAIT

There's been another turbine failure at Liddell Power Station.  

Turbine Four was taken offline on Monday, stripping the station of a third of its capacity. 

The station only has three turbines, after one was closed in April ahead of a total closure next year.

Liddell only returned to full capacity two weeks ago, after generator malfunctions earlier in winter.

The malfunction's been put down to a leaking hydraulic tube and is expected to take a week to repair.   

There's concern, it could more pressure on the stretched energy grid, as the energy regulator calls for the switch to renewables to speed up.

AGL Kicks Off Transition Planning for Liddell Power Station

BY DAKOTA TAIT

AGL has launched the 12 week planning process to transform the Liddell Power Station into a renewable energy hub ahead of the site's closure in 2022-23.

The electricity giant will work with engineering contractor Delta Group to establish steps to decommission and remediate the station's infrastructure.

The redeveloped site is set to focus on technologies such as solar energy storage, grid-scale batteries, and waste-to-energy processing.

AGL Chief Operating Officer Markus Brokhof says it's a bittersweet but inevitable milestone for one of the Hunter's biggest energy suppliers.

"The station is now nearing the end of its technical life and our transition program is about ensuring the safety of our people and preparing other sources of generation to continue delivering reliable electricity," Mr Brokhof said.

"Australia’s future energy needs will be delivered through a combination of technologies - gas, hydrogen, pumped-hydro, renewables and firming technologies and industrial developments."

Image credit: https://thehub.agl.com.au/

Motorcyclist Killed in Crash in the Hunter Valley

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A motorcyclist has died following a crash in the Hunter Valley. 

About 7.15am on Monday, emergency services were called to the Old New England Highway at Liddell following reports a motorcycle had left the road and rolled down an embankment.

Upon arrival, the rider – believed to be a man aged in his 40s – was located deceased; he is yet to be formally identified.

Officers from Hunter Valley Police District have established a crime scene and have commenced inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

Meanwhile,

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was called to Putty Road at Howes Valley at around 10am. 

A 50-year-old man was seriously injured when the motorcycle he was riding left the road.

He suffered head and limb injuries and was transported to the John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition.

Labor Critical of Government's Liddell Taskforce

BY LILLY HAINES

The Morrison Government has announced a taskforce to study the expected closure of the Liddell Power Station near Muswellbrook.

The taskforce is reportedly leaving all options on the table including extending the life of or replacing the ageing coal plant at the expense of the taxpayer, and is looking into the effects the closure will have on our energy system.

The announcement comes after AGL revealed it would extend the life of Liddell an extra four months with closure now planned for April 2023.

Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Resources, and Federal Member for Hunter, Joel Fitzgibbon has said the move is too little too late from the Morrison Government.

"We've known for at least six years that Liddell would not last beyond her 50th birthday and yet they have left it until now to try to work out what we are going to do in response," he said.

Mr Fitzgibbon said the Hunter needs to attract new investment into new generation and storage facilities to counter the closure of the coal fired power plant.

"The government has announced a four month extension, which we welcome, but we needed an energy policy six years ago to drive investment and accelerate new facilities in the Upper Hunter".

"If the formation of a committee is the best thing the Morrison Government can do after six years we are all in trouble," Mr Fitzgibbon said.

Liddell Power Station near Muswellbrook. Image: ABC News. 

Man Falls into Boiler at Liddell Power Station

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

A man has luckily escaped injury during a workplace fall at Muswellbrook's Liddell Power Station this afternoon.

The incident occurred around 12:30 as the 50-year-old fell 4 metres into a boiler, which was not in operation at the time as it underwent maintenance.

Three road ambulances and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter were called out to the scene, with two of the emergency vehicles called off, as first responding crews determined the incident to not be as serious as feared.

The man is currently in a stable condition.

NSW ambulance says crews are determining if and where he'll be taken to hospital.

AGL Denies Sitting On Power Solution

BY MADELAINE  MCNEILL

AGL Energy has defended itself following media speculation it has the solution to an expected power shortfall but has done nothing about it.

It was reported the electricity company holds an approved concept plan for a new coal-fired power station called Bayswater B that would be built next to the existing Liddell plant.

Reports say the plan was originally made by Macquarie Generation before AGL purchased the company.

There are concerns Liddell's closure in 2022 will see an 850-megawatt power deficit that could increase consumers' bills, and media reports suggest a new plant could be the solution.

A statement from the company said, "AGL has never sought and does not have planning approval to build a new power station at Bayswater."

AGL announces $400 million gas-fired plant

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Plans for a 252-megawatt gas-fired electricity plant near Newcastle have been unveiled today by AGL.

The $400 million project will consist of 14 reciprocating engine units capable of generating 18 megawatts of energy each, with construction set to be complete sometime in 2022.

AGL is currently assessing sites for the project, but it's expected to be located near the energy giant's Newcastle Gas Storage Facility in Tomago.

Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg has expressed concerns the new plant will not make up for a 1600 megawatt defecit created by the closure of Muswellbrook's Liddell coal-fired station.

Mr Frydenberg is still pushing for AGL to sell-off the ageing site to Hong Kong-based rival, Alinta, before it shuts down in 2022.

However Managing Director and CEO of AGL, Andy Vesey said the company is committed to filling the void leftover while also supporting Australia's transition to renewable energy.

"It's a three-phase plan which, at its completion will have reduced the impact of the closure of Liddell - providing NSW with reliable, affordable and sustainable energy for decades," Mr Vesey said.

He said AGL has given the government seven years' notice and now wants to push forward with the first phase of the NSW Generation Plan.

"This is a plan which [the Australian Energy Market Operator] reviewed and said if implemented," he continued, "will eliminate the impact of the closure of Liddell."

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald said the NSW government is looking forward to receiving a development application for the program soon, as it aligns with their future energy goals.

"The Berejiklian government has been one of the early adopters of the National Energy Guarantee," Mr MacDonald said.

"...This is what we've been looking for; it's saying to the market, if we give you the guidelines and the certainty you can go out there and make that capital investment that we're looking at here."

The Newcastle project comes in conjunction with a similar 210-megawatt gas plant in South Australia and a collective 653-megawatt renewable focus through wind farms in Queensland and NSW.

Stage One involves the Tomago plant announced today, an efficiency upgrade to the Hunter's Bayswater Power Station and an agreement for AGL to offtake 300 megawatts of solar capacity from the Sunraysia Solar Project by Maoenang Australia.

Stages Two and Three involve further projects necessary under commercial and industrial demand, and are subject to Board approval.

A similar AGL station under construction in South Australia. Image: SMH. 

PM pushes for extension to Liddell function

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

The federal government is ramping up the pressure on AGL to sell or extend the life of Muswellbrook's Liddell Power Station.

Liddell is the oldest coal-fired power station in the Hunter Valley, however, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull believes it is "manifestly in the public interest" for AGL to keep the station running beyond its planned closure in 2022.

It's understood an informal approach has been made to AGL by rival company, Alinta Energy, to buy Liddell, while the Prime Minister phoned AGL chief executive Andy Vesey on Tuesday to discuss the move.

Malcolm Turnbull said the power giant would be doing the "right thing by their customers, by the community, and I think by their own shareholders, to keep this plant going for another four or five years or sell it to somebody who is prepared to do so."

However, Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon has labelled the idea as a way for the Prime Minister to repent for failures in the energy sector in the eyes of voters.

"I believe the Prime Minister is playing catch-up and thinking more about the next election and his failures in energy than concerns about the Hunter," Mr Fitzgibbon said.

"I have no problem with Liddell operating for a few more years," he continued,"in fact I welcome that, but whether AGL can come to a commercial arrangement with a buyer is an entirely different matter," he said.

The MP thinks there is no point keeping the station running a few extra years if it eliminates investment plans for renewable technologies which could create and sustain jobs for years to come.

Environmental Justice Australia's Dr James Whelan has slammed the idea, following the release of new data showing a growing level of emissions coming from Hunter Valley coal-fired power stations like Bayswater and Liddell.

There was a 69% jump in dangerous fine particle emissions at Bayswater, while a massive 179% spike was recorded at Lake Macquarie's Vales Point Power Station.

"Air pollution kills more than 3000 Australians prematurely every year," Dr Whelan explained,"a lot of the health effects are from fine particles from coal-fired power stations, while sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen have acute and short-term respiratory impacts that can cause asthma attacks and hospital admissions for inflamed throats."

He said given the health risks posed by non-renewable energy generation, the extension of the old Liddell station is a terrible idea.

"We're dismayed by the jockeying for the Liddell Power Station...it's toxic, old and inefficient and its time has come.

"Closing Liddell would have a huge health benefit on the communities in the Hunter Valley, we'd see 183,000 kilograms less fine particle pollution each year," Dr Whelan said.

Meanwhile, Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen is pushing for a new high-energy, low emissions (HELE) coal power station to be built in his electorate.

He's praised the efforts of 20 federal backbenchers including former PM Tony Abbott, who are lobbying for better energy guarantees to drive down energy costs by increasing demand.

Michael Johnsen says they have the funds [raked in from a regional NSW $4.1 billion-dollar cut of the Snowy Hydro sale] to make it happen.

"Families are feeling the cost of electricity in their home budgets, and businesses are feeling the costs, which puts a lot of jobs at risk," he said.

"We can't afford that...we've got the resources, the expertise and the infrastructure and we should be building new HELE coal-fired power stations."

Resurrected? Liddell could be saved from retirement in 2022. Image: ABC.

AGL announces huge upgrade for Bayswater Power Station

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

A major upgrade is set to take place at Bayswater Power Station at Muswellbrook.  

AGL announced the plans this morning, which will see a $200 million dollar revamp of the plant and 90 jobs created during construction work.

The Bayswater revival comes as part of the NSW Generation Plan which aims to plug a projected energy shortage of 1000 megawatts expected to hit after the closure of Liddell Power Station in 2022.

When complete, Bayswater will power up to 100, 000 Hunter homes - and according to AGL, the improvements will come without added coal consumption or emissions.

AGL Macquarie General Manager, Kate Coates said the project will see modern, energy-efficient turbines installed to reduce emissions. 

"This work, which incorporates modern turbine design, will improve the power station's efficiency...This project will ensure Bayswater's upgraded units will be optimal by 2022 and will be ready to power-on until the closure of the station in 2035," Ms Coates said.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald and Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen announced the upgrade will be assessed by the Department of Planning and Environment.

"From the NSW Government perspective," Mr MacDonald said, "it's important that AGL has a plan to cover the retirement of the Liddell Power Station, and they've put that plan to the NSW government.

"It's quite a comprehensive suite of different generation," Mr MacDonald approved.

"Energy generation is changing; there's no doubt about it, it's complex, but I think we've got comfort now that AGL has put a lot of thought into this," he said.

Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen also spruked the economic benefits of the move.

"It's very important for our local economy and our electorate," he said, "...to be able to generate that base-load power for the state from the power-generating powerhouse of the Upper Hunter electorate is very important."

Image Source: Andrew Sario.