Wollongong Transport Coalition Response to The Submissions Report

Port Kembla Coal Terminal proposal MP 08_00009

to lift the curfew and double the amount of coal on our roads.

Wollongong people have received an unexpected and in many cases unwelcome Christmas present in the form of the quiet release of the “Response to Submissions Report”. This is a response to widespread community concern about proposals by the Port Kembla Coal Terminal (PKCT) to lift the curfew on coal truck deliveries to the coal terminal, and, to double the amount of coal received by coal from 5 to 10 million tonnes per annum.

Good policy would allow for public accessibility and a written response to be sent to those people who took the time to make a submission, responding to the questions asked or issues raised in their submission instead of ignoring them. Rather, the 50 plus page report is hidden away at the Department of Planning's website: http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=2238

After dealing with the limited range of concerns of other Government Departments and Wollongong City Council, the report proceeds to dismiss most of the concerns of the 112 persons who took the trouble to lodge objections with the Department of Planning. A petition signed by 55 persons also objects to the proposals.

Among concerns raised was engine exhaust noise but it seems that the PKCT regards loud noise as an essential element of coal trucking, and that only the most minor concessions can be made, stating "Engine brakes are an essential method of truck control on steep haulage routes such as Mt Ousley.

The second major concern was road safety, and this also gets a limited response. Although it is claimed that "The removal of delivery restrictions will allow less interaction with commuter traffic, as trucks will be able to deliver more efficiently during night time hours outside of peak commuter times", this could be offset by a doubling of the number of coal trucks.

The third major community concern was that of dust and air pollution of trucks. Strangely this was not picked by any Government Departments or Wollongong City Council, and the concerns are dismissed in two short paragraphs.

More use of rail is raised in the submissions report which to its credit mentions the option of the Maldon Dombarton rail link. Other community concerns treated very lightly in the submission reports are those of the costs of maintaining and improving roads used by coal trucks, and the fact that "Many respondents noted concerns with their property values diminishing as a result of this application."

Submissions were received from people further afield than those living close to the road. Those concerns related to the safety and health of the community citing air pollution, the access to and from Wollongong (what happens when the road fails or accidents block the road?) The capacity of the road to cope with additional loads of other heavy vehicles emanating from the Port carrying cars, agricultural machinery, heavy lifts and everything else that used to be delivered to Sydney. The cumulative effect of all these additional heavy vehicles going back up Mt Ousley Road appears to have been ignored.

The Wollongong Transport Coalition suggests that the PKCT should substantially modify its proposals to reflect public concern. A public hearing/inquiry is required. There should also be more consultation by the Department of Planning out of school holidays and this should extend to public hearings. The Coalition does not agree with Submissions report where it states the PKCT''s view that "adequate and appropriate communication and consultation was carried out with the public for the project".