Climbing out of COVID, clambering back climate change, the continual challenge.

The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report of 9th August states “Scientists are observing changes in the Earth’s climate in every region and across the whole climate system. Many of the changes observed in the climate are unprecedented in thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of years, and some of the changes already set in motion—such as continued sea level rise—are irreversible over hundreds to thousands of years.However, strong and sustained reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases would limit climate change.”

An infographic Worlds Apart- A story of three possible warmer worlds highlights our choices.

An ABC article on the IPCC report cited Leslie Hughes, Professor of Biology at Macquarie University and councillor at the Climate Council, as saying:

"What we do by 2030 would determine our future. There must be no new oil, coal or gas exploration or infrastructure. We've got to stop subsidising fossil fuels. We've got to electrify everything and then run everything from renewable energy. We've got to change our diets.We've really got to change most of the ways that we do things. But we know how to do it and there are ample opportunities to do so."

The Climate Council recently launched an interactive Australian Gas Exploration Map, which demonstrates just how much of Australia’s pristine land and waterways are under threat from gas companies. Australia is already one of the world’s largest liquified gas producers, and yet, new gas projects are being proposed across the country.

On our door-step the Kurri Kurri gas-fired power station proposal is “locking us in for catastrophic climate impacts. Building a government-owned gas power station in the middle of a climate crisis is the equivalent of asking the Australian public to jump onto a sinking ship without a safety raft” according to the Climate Council. 

What can we do locally? Supporting a transition to renewable energy away from coal and fossil fuels, moving towards electric vehicles, protecting our trees and the natural areas that link them, and eating less meat. All the small actions will add up…it’s what got us into this predicament in the first place, it will get us out of it too and COVID has shown us that we can change the way we do things. This time it will be for the health of the planet and all its inhabitants.

Newstan Mine Extension proposal for 15 years.

The Newstan Mine Extension Project aims to extract up to 25.9 Mt of coal at a maximum rate of 4 Mtpa at the Newstan Colliery over a 15 year period. Mining would include first workings, partial extraction and total extraction by bord and pillar techniques.

In 2019, Myuna Sport and Recreation Centre was closed due the integrity of the Ash Dam and its infrastructure should an earthquake hit the City. Issues of concern around this project which proposes to mine under the ash dam include:

• Subsidence,
• seepage of heavy metals into Lake Macquarie
• the integrity of the dam floor
• contamination of ground and surface water.

The proposal states "Conservative protection barriers have been adopted in the mine design to minimise subsidence impact risks to overlying infrastructure such as the Main Northern Railway, Eraring Power Station and Eraring Ash Dam and sensitive surface water features such Stockyard Creek, Kilaben Creek, and Stony Creek."

The Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group has prepared a submission with reference to local impacts and is available here for you to review and consider in any personal submission.

You can send your objections to https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/project/12886 and click on “make a submission” button. Click “I object to the project” then add your comments or upload your submission.

Submissions are due by 19/10/21 via the NSW Planning Portal.