22 DECEMBER 2021
ISSUE 270
REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL WEEKLY NEWS
News
A very caring Christmas Ourimbah Region Residents’ Association (ORRA) have convinced Central Coast Council Administrator Rik Hart to send a draft masterplan back to town planners for further work. See page 3
Out&About
Community organisation We Care Connect has received over 1,100 requests to provide Christmas gifts to disadvantaged Central Coast children this year.
The Shelly Beach Malibu Club, a short and long boarding club for women, has received an injection of funding following its successful application for a Surfing NSW grant. See page 13
Business
See page 15 The team from Husqvarna HQ at Tuggerah donate toys to We Care Connect
New emission limits don’t satisfy campaigners Vales Point power station has been issued with an order to limit its emissions of nitrogen oxide. In an application to the EPA, Vales Point requested a further five-year license exemption which allows for the emission of more than 800mg per cubic metre of nitrogen oxide (NOx) per day. The EPA granted Delta an exemption to the licence, however, the exemption went hand in hand with an order to reduce current daily levels. The new ruling states that the power station must cut NOx
levels by 35 per cent to 850 mg per cubic metre for 99 per cent of the time, and 23 per cent to 980 mg per cubic metre for the remaining one per cent, which allows for occasions when burning at higher temperatures occurs. Delta Electricity applied to continue to operate with 1,500mg per cubic metre for a further five years to January 1, 2027. Broadly seen as positive move for guaranteed air quality on the Central Coast, emissions from Vales Point remain at odds with those permitted in the Clear Air Regulation Act, which
came into effect in 2012. Eraring power station, also on Lake Macquarie, emits on average 330mg of NOx per cubic metre. Community and environmental groups engaged in a relentless campaign for Vales Point’s NOx levels to be reduced, based on health impact studies that showed the effect the pollutant can have on adults and children. In response to the campaigning, the EPA engaged in community consultation during the decision-making process for
the exemption request. This was Vales Point’s third request for an exemption. On the previous two occasions, the exemption was granted by the EPA without community consultation. The EPA received 1,800 submissions, while the issue became the subject of several protests. “This is the first time the public have had an opportunity to express their views to the EPA on this issue, so that’s significant,” said campaigning group Future Sooner’s Will Belford.
Many of those submissions called for the EPA to go further than it has and requested that Delta Electricity fit low NOx burners at the station, much like those in use at nearby Eraring and in power stations across the world. It is believed that the fitting of the low NOx burners would have resulted in a halving current emission levels. Reports suggest that low NOx burners would have cost owners Delta $90m.
Central Coast Council is inviting community feedback on what makes up the unique character of Toukley, Canton Beach, Noraville and Norah Head... See page 21
Sport
On Saturday, December 18, the Central Coast Mariners confidently defeated the Western Sydney Wanderers 2-0 at Central Coast Stadium to secure a second win in a row.
Continued page 4
Page 32
Puzzles page 19
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