Anyone following the woes of the community with the continual breaches of emission pollution from the Copper Smelter in Port Kembla might very well ask the question, ARE WE STARING DOWN THE BARRELL OF OUR FUTURE?
The "Green Premier" Bob Carr as he turned the first sod on the site of $130 Million Dollar improvements to the Plant in 1998 said, " This is the most advanced environmental friendly technology in the world". He then blew kisses to the protestors. Then he promised protection with "It will have the most stringent EPA conditions in Australia", rings an all too familiar bell doesn't it?
The same words have been used here for the Charcoal Plant. "The latest states of the art technology" and "emissions below the EPA standard". These are bandied around as if guarantee against malfunctioning. But the you-beaut, super duper technology of Port Kembla Copper, failed dismally two weeks after opening and polluted the area so badly, the school was evacuated and 12 children taken to hospital, proving beyond doubt, this is not the case.
The assurances of best technology and EPA conditions are simply rhetoric used to sell us the idea that these Plants are environmentally safe when they are not. Once they are built, it’s too late. The Companies operate on a profit basis, the Government gets its votes for jobs gained and the community suffers the consequence.
Councillor Dance waded into the fore and repeated the same rhetoric under the heading of "Why I support the Charcoal Plant" but went one step further to claim that the Government would not let it operate outside these guidelines. All I can say is, he must be blind and deaf, to the environmental crisis unfolding in Port Kembla right now which, despite all these assurances, has been an ongoing nightmare for the surrounding community for the past 2 years since it began operating.
Reported breaches of Dioxin fallout exceeding world safety limits is 25 times in the past 14 weeks.
Dioxin is one of the most harmful carcinogenic emissions in the world. This therefore begs the question, are these claims reliable? I say NOT. And where is the assured government protection? This fallout is damaging properties as well as health. Dioxins lodge in fatty tissues and glands and each successive dose builds up in your body. Its called a persistent organic pollutant that your body cannot dispose of and leads to major health problems that arise later down the track.
The EPA Director expressed her "Disappointment in the Companies performance" and added that the Company had been told "it must stop" and "we will take legal action if necessary" BIG DEAL! When will the EPA think it is necessary to take action? And why are they still allowed to operate?
Is this what is in store for us in the future? You better believe it !
The Residents Action Group. (PO Box 1221 Batemans Bay. 2536)
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