The NSW Nature Conservation Council is calling for tougher fines and stronger health regulations after one of state’s largest electricity providers, Origin Energy, was fined just $15,000 for releasing toxic dust from at its Central Coast power station complex.
‘Origin Energy’s failure to safely manage the dangerous dust from its ash dam shows it is more interested in cost-cutting than protecting the health of the community,’ said NCC CEO Kate Smolski.
‘Tougher fines and stronger rules are needed to make these companies clean up their act.
‘15,000 is such a small fine it does nothing to deter Origin from continuing to put Central Coast residents’ health at risk.’
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) fined Origin Energy $15,000 after poisonous dust from an ash dam at the company’s Eraring Power Station blew off the site in September 2016.
The EPA investigated after it received numerous calls from members of the public reporting large quantities of dust escaping the site.
‘The community deserves to know why did Origin suspended its dust-suppression processes, which led to the pollution incident, and what measures it has put in place to ensure this never happens again,’ Ms Smolski said.
‘Ash dams are becoming an increasing health risk for people who live near these facilities, particularly as coal-fired power stations close across NSW.
‘With both Liddell and Vales Point coal-fired power stations due to close soon, the NSW Government must ensure the owners make these toxic dams safe so these sorts of toxic dust plumes never again put community health at risk.
‘This incident shows the cost to community health of our reliance on polluting coal energy.
‘Replacing dirty coal-fire power with clean, renewable energy will not only be better for community health, it will help keep the climate safe for our kids.’
