Plans Approved to Transform Kurri Kurri Smelter Site into New Major Commercial and Industrial Precinct

 BY ISABEL EVERETT 

Plans to remediate a former hydro aluminum smelter site at Kurri Kurri in order to create a new commercial and industrial precinct have been approved by the NSW Government.

Along side the precinct, half of the 2 thousand hectare site will be set aside for environmental conservation, while 80 hectares will be used as a containment cell for contaminated materials.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the approval had the potential to create thousands of new jobs for the region.

“Its proximity to the Hunter Expressway makes it ideal for a new commercial and industrial precinct and we look forward to working with the landowner and councils to develop a masterplan for the site.

Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said the NSW Government had also agreed to take on the ongoing management of the containment cell once all the remediation works have been completed and certified.

“This agreement is crucial to the site’s remediation and future redevelopment,” Mrs Pavey said.

“It ensures adequate arrangements are in place for the long-term management of the containment cell, safeguarding human and environmental health so we can unlock the potential of the site for business and the people of the Hunter region.”

Former Smelter Site 
Image Credit: Newcastle on Hunter

AGL Power Shortage Creates Issues for Tomago Smelter

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

AGL has curtailed electricity supply to the Tomago Aluminium Smelter on two occasions this week, and the federal opposition says it's bad news for the Hunter economy.

The energy giant is arguing the smelter accepted a commercial agreement to reduce output rather than pay increased power bills.

The curtailment follows energy shortages at Bayswater and Liddell power stations earlier this week, while there was also a limited amount of power emerging from Victoria via the interstate interconnector.

Tomago Smelter claims a thermal imbalance resulted from the power limitations imposed for 45 minutes on Tuesday night and again for two hours on Thursday evening, as workers attempted to restore the potline system.

Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon is pointing the finger at the Prime Minister's attempts to revive the ageing Liddell station, which is set to close in 2022, rather than developing new strategies.

"The under capacity we have in electricity supply is the result of years of policy inaction by the Abbott and Turnbull governments," Mr Fitzgibbon said.

"We can't fix that mistake now, but we can ask Malcolm Turnbull to get out of the way and allow AGL to build the new generation capacity they are promising here in the Hunter."

Joel Fitzgibbon and Paterson MP, Meryl Swanson fear Hunter jobs may be lost if we keep following this trajectory.

"Tomago Aluminium and its workforce are paying the price for five years of energy policy inaction..." Ms Swanson said.

Image: Tomago Aluminium.