Muswellbrook named Australia's third most polluted postcode

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Muswellbrook has been identified as the country's third worst postcode when it comes to air pollution, according to a new study by the Australian Conservation Foundation.

The organisation pulled the most recent emission data from the National Pollutant Inventory, collected from power stations, manufacturers, and mines. 

Mount Isa topped the list, followed by Newman in Western Australia. 

Six of the top ten postcodes for the highest air pollution also had a coal-fired power station or a coal mine.

You can take a look at the numbers in your postcode here.

Image credit: Australian Conservation Foundation.

Koppers Fined For Coal Tar Pitch Spill At Port Of Newcastle Wharf

BY IAN  CROUCH

Koppers Carbon Materials and Chemicals at Mayfield North has been fined after spilling coal tar pitch onto the wharf at the Port of Newcastle.

The Environment Protection Authority says around 2,000 litres of pitch was sprayed onto the wharf in March, with some going into the Hunter River while the material was being transferred from a tanker to the main Koppers plant.

The company has been fined $15,000 for the incident, the largest fine the EPA can issue under its legislation.

Koppers arranged a clean up and has changed its practices to ensure the incident doesn't happen again.

Draft Strategy Released to Clean Up Air Across the Hunter

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The NSW Government has proposed a new draft plan which hopes to turn air pollution in the Hunter around for good.

The Draft Clean Air Strategy, released on Thursday, addresses a number of key areas in air quality policy, including cleaning up industry, making fuel and transport greener, and being better prepared for pollution events.

Environment Minister Matt Kean says last year's bushfires highlighted the fact there was work to be done in the area.

“Our Draft Clean Air Strategy sets out five key action areas to mitigate community exposure to poor air quality, both during extreme events and on a day-to-day basis," Mr Kean said.

“We’re asking everyone with an interest in air quality in NSW to help us shape the final Strategy by sharing your knowledge and providing your feedback."

The draft plan draws on previous public consultation and a number of other Government policies.

But while Singleton GP Dr Robert Vickers says the Government's new proposal is exciting, there were fatal flaws still not addressed by the current version of the plan.

"We know the problem with the load-based licensing scheme is that mines are exempt," Dr Vickers said.

"The idea of load-based licensing is that your license fees, that you pay to the EPA, are dependent on how much total pollution you emit. When you're responsible for 90% of the coarse pollution in your area, it's a bit ineffective to be exempt from that scheme."

Community groups are also calling for stricter regulations on local power stations to bring emissions in line with global standards.

Dr Vickers says he's hoping the Government takes this community consultation on board. 

"We've done the work for them," Dr Vickers said. "It goes into the detail of what needs to be done, it's evidence-based."

"It's great to see Minister Kean commit to releasing this plan, I have no doubt that he's probably going to cop a lot of flak from it from some of the industry, and we fully support him implementing a plan, but we want to make sure that it's evidence-based and it's going to be effective."

Members of the public can provide feedback on the plan at http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/clean-air-strategy.

Environment Minister Orders Immediate Clean Up of Rutherford's Truegain Site

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Environment Minister Matt Kean has become to first NSW Environment Minister to issue a prohibition notice, ordering the owner of the former Truegain waste oil refinery site in Rutherford to clean up the site of face prosecution from the Environmental Protection agency.

The prohibition notice requires the all storages of waste or substances that could pose a risk to the environment or human health to be removed from the site. 

“The owner of this site has been given ample opportunities to fix this mess, but now enough is enough, it’s time we use every power we have to protect the environment and the local community.” Mr Kean said.

“After seeing it for myself, it is clear the Truegain site has been left in a terrible mess and it needs to be cleaned up.”

The Minister says numerous opportunities have been afforded the owner, including one last month, to provide submissions to the EPA in relation to the site and about this Prohibition Notice.

The EPA has also issued 18 penalty notices to Truegain, successfully prosecuting the company twice in the NSW Land & Environment Court.

The EPA also suspended Truegain’s environment protection licence in 2016 and revoked its licence on 5 January 2018 and ordered the landowner to remove all liquid from the premises’ spill containment system and lawfully dispose of it, and then do so again within 48 hours of any rainfall event.

The EPA is now monitoring the condition of the site during rain events and is arranging for removal and lawful disposal of contaminated wastewater as needed to prevent any discharge of contaminated water to the environment.

Mr Kean said non-compliance with the Notice, which requires removal of all stored waste at the site, may result in prosecution by the EPA.

“I want to make sure the community can have confidence that sites are properly maintained and rehabilitated and that all necessary action is taken to prioritise the health of the community and protection of the environment,” Mr Kean said.

Koppers Mayfield Fined Over Alleged Pollution Incidents

BY IAN CROUCH

The Koppers plant at Mayfield has been hit with a $30,000 fine for alleged pollution incidents last year.

The plant processes coal tars for industrial uses, an activity which the Environment Protection Authority says can produce noxious odours and harmful chemicals.

In July 2019, a tank which was being heated became pressurised and released noxious, odorous gases, prompting a complaint to the EPA from a neighbour.

A second incident occurred in August where a spill occurred while products were being transferred from one tank to another.

Koppers has been fined $15,000 for each incident. 

In a statement, Operations Manager, Nick Moretti says Koppers has updated procedures and installed new monitoring equipment since the incidents and is working with the EPA to improve the plant's performance.

The Koppers Plant At Mayfield Picture: Facebook

Liddell Coal Fined $15,000 For Polluting Local Waterway

BY IAN CROUCH

A Hunter Valley coal mine has been fined for polluting a local waterway.

Debris from a mine blast blocked a sediment containment drain at the Liddell Mine near Ravensworth in November last year.

The Environment Protection Authority alleged the blocked drain along with a failure to inspect the blast area and heavy rain caused around 26,000 litres of sediment-laden water to enter a pool in nearby Bowman's Creek.

Liddell Coal took action to pump the runoff back to the mine site.

However, although there was no environmental impact, the mine has been fined $15,000 for failing to clear the drain.

Call for Greater Intervention to Prevent Muswellbrook Pollution

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

It's feared pollution from Upper Hunter coal mines will only intensify unless companies are forced to temporarily shut down when air quality becomes hazardous.

A review of the Upper Hunter Air Quality Monitoring Network concludes Muswellbrook has some of the worst air pollution figures in the state.

Throughout the Summer of 2017/18, there were 13 exceedances of large particle pollution, with very dry and windy conditions exacerbating the problem.

It comes as families vacate the town in droves, hoping to avoid health risks associated with coal dust.

Muswellbrook Councillor, Graeme McNeill has been contacted by an anonymous employee at BHP and now believes behemoth companies are merely copping EPA fines while continuing to pollute.

"If [an individual] is caught littering, they're fined approximately 1% of the yearly average income [equating to about $700]," he said, "but the latest fine that BHP incurred represents less than 0.001% of their annual profits."

The Councillor thinks it's a mere drop in the ocean which fails to disincentivise dust exceedances and is calling for the EPA to be given the power to stop operations until favourable conditions (like less wind and heat) return.

"Muswellbrook has given up its natural landscapes and its clean air for the benefit of NSW in royalties that the government receives," Cr McNeill said.

"When you look at the revenue being extracted from the area," he explained, "it just seems very unjust that we can't even be looked after with clean air...

He said those residents who remain in the town are suffering through consequences.

"People's water bills are through the roof because you're always washing verandahs, backwashing in pools...we're burdened with all these additional costs as well as the health effects just so the state can benefit from the derived income," he concluded.

It's unclear when the matter will be brought before Muswellbrook Shire Council, with Cr McNeill labelling it an "ongoing discussion."

Image: Muswellbrook Chronicle. 

Heavy Metals Found in Hunter Homes

BY GRACE LANCASTER

An ongoing study conducted by Macquarie University Researchers is discovering substantial levels of dangerous heavy metals in a number of homes around inner Newcastle.

Dust samples from homes in Carrington, Tighes Hill and Waratah uncovered harmful amounts of lead, manganese, zinc and chromium, reportedly due to their proximity to Newcastle's historic steel industry.

Researchers are yet to provide conclusive evidence as to the extent of possible health risks involved. 

For more information and to participate in the study visit: http://www.360dustanalysis.com/. 

The Former BHP Steel Works. Image: The Land

The deadline's up: PFAS report from federal government due today

BY: ALEX MURRAY

The deadline for the Turnbull government's report in the wake of the Williamtown contamination crisis has arrived.

Residents affected by toxic pollution are rife with health, financial and living problems and are calling for compensation and effective solutions from their representatives.

With a delayed response from authorities and a freeze on bank lending in the area, the community are in devastation particularly for businesses and an uncertain future for families.

The federal government will be under scrutiny for their actions in the wake of the red-zone crisis and the 18 year gap since officials were warned of the dangerous chemicals.

Much of the government's spending has fallen onto the base but subsequently had limited plans for the affected residents.

The critical report being released today will detail a solution to these severe long-term problems for human safety and the money owed to the community.

Member for Paterson, Meryl Swanson says:

"This has been an issue for decades, we know what the problem is and now we want a solution."

"People are very concerned about their health implications and particularly their immediate mental health when they worry about their environment and of course the investigations into all sorts of clusters of cancer occurring around the base."

"Essentially we need to know what's in that plan and what consideration has been given for the people of Williamtown and what we intend to do for them."

"People have been rendered financially hopeless because they're not able to sell their properties because the banks won't lend to potential buyers, they've essentially been landlocked."

"Our local people feel well and truly deserted by our own government."

Meryl Swanson MP - Credit: Newcastle Herald 

EPA Fines Hydromet $30,000 for Water Contamination and Poor Waste Storage

BY NIKOLA JOKANOVIC

 The NSW Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today issued a fine for Hydromet Corporation of $30,000 for inadequate storage of waste materials at their Tomago facility and the resulting pollution of a nearby drainage line.

Investigations by the EPA in February of this year raised concerns over the storage of hazardous materials at the site.

These concerns were confirmed when a water sample taken by the EPA showed elevated levels of cadmium, copper, nickel, selenium and zinc in a nearby drainage line.

In response, the EPA has issued two penalty notices: $15,000 for the inadequate storage of waste material and $15,000 for polluting waters.

EPA Regional Director North Adam Gilligan said the matter represents an unacceptable risk to the environment.

"Inappropriately handling hazardous materials and discharging polluted water are serious matters," he said.

"The EPA will require Hydronet to plan and implement the ongoing remediation of the site to ensure the local environment and community are protected."

Hydronet has since completed clean-up activities on the affected drainage line and removed over 2,000 tonnes of hazardous solid waste and over 800,000 litres of liquid waste.

The Tomago facility will remain closed while clean-up work on the site is undertaken, so as to ensure proper remediation of all contamination.

Following ongoing investigations, the EPA has issued two fines of $15,000 to Hydromet.