MEDIA RELEASE Wednesday 31st August 2011
Concerned for our children: Surf Coast parents convene forum on public health risks posed by expansion of Anglesea coal mine Anglesea Air Action will hold a public forum highlighting concerns about the health risks posed by the impending lease renewal of the Anglesea brown coal mine at the Anglesea Memorial Hall in McMillian Street, Anglesea on Sunday 11th September at 2pm.
The group has been formed by concerned residents who do not support the State Government’s plan to renew the Alcoa Anglesea mining lease for a further 50 years. Anglesea Air Action is calling for recognition of the health concerns of Anglesea residents, a shorter transitional lease period and a ban to any further new coal developments until a full assessment has been made of the likely social and environmental impacts of these industries. “We are hosting a community forum in light of proposed lease renewal of Alcoa’s Anglesea facility by the State Government in the coming weeks,” Anglesea Air Action spokesperson, Mike Lawrence, said. “Medical doctors and environmental experts will meet with the Surf Coast community to discuss the ramifications of the imminent lease renewal for the town and surrounding region.”
Parents of the Anglesea Primary School and local residents have expressed grave concerns about the ongoing presence and expansion of the coal mine in their backyards. “Many residents are concerned that the lease renewal would entail a dramatic expansion of the open cut mine under the 50 year lease period, extending the huge scar on the Anglesea heathlands, posing significant health risks to our children and progressively moving closer to our homes,” local resident, Sonia Ivetac, said. The group is concerned that the brown coal mine and power station are situated only one kilometre from the local primary school and only a few hundred metres from houses – the State Government passed legislation on Monday establishing no-go zones that stop the construction of wind turbines within two kilometres of houses and within five kilometres of regional cities and the Great Ocean Road.
Real health risks for Anglesea children
Dr Merryn Redenbach of Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) said there was evidence that the children of Anglesea could be at real risk from airborne coal particles. “The young, the old and those with respiratory and heart conditions are most at risk. There is evidence which indicates that pollution from coal affects all major body organ systems and contributes to heart disease, cancer, stroke, and chronic lower respiratory disease and asthma. It interferes with lung development and increases the risk of heart attacks.”
There are a number of air pollutants arising from brown coal combustion that is harmful to humans. Many toxic elements are released with coal combustion – arsenic, mercury, fluorine, cadmium, lead, selenium and zinc. The most harmful pollutants are the smallest particles (PM 2.5) and coal combustion contributes to these. They are inhaled deep into the lungs to cause inflammation and damage and large quantities are being produced in mining and power generation. Exposure to these particles, some of which originate from coal combustion, has been shown to reduce life expectancy. In Australia there has been insufficient research into the impacts of air pollution from coal compared to Europe.
More toxic than Hazelwood
Statistics obtained from the Government’s National Pollution Inventory reveal that the Anglesea Power Station emits more particulate matter and sulphur dioxide than what is widely regarded as the “dirtiest” power station in the Southern Hemisphere – the Hazelwood Power Station in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley. “We know that the Alcoa Anglesea Power Station emits 1160% more particulate matter (PM 2.5) and 308% more sulphur dioxide than the Hazelwood Power Station,” Surf Coast energy Group president, Caroline Hawkins, said. “We are concerned that the Department of Health has not assessed the dangers exposed by the Anglesea brown coal mine to vulnerable populations within the community.”
Lease details secret
The details of the planned lease renewal have been kept well hidden from the local community. An attempt to elicit the terms of the proposed lease under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act was refused by Minister for Planning, Matthew Guy. Greens MP Greg Barber asked the Minister whether it was possible that the State Government was contemplating extending and expanding the Alcoa coal mine for another 50 years, and that no document or public process would be entered into until the final decision was made, at which point it will be too late for any member of the public to take an interest.
Anglesea Air Action spokesperson, Mike Lawrence, said coal mining had no future in Anglesea. “In light of the increasing cost of pollution, the broad scale environmental repercussions and long term community health risks, we are confident that coal mining is a thing of the past in our town,” he said. “Rather, we foresee a significant opportunity for Alcoa to show leadership in the transition to renewable energy in the region. There is immense community support behind the proposal that Alcoa could use this upcoming lease renewal to announce serious steps to transition to renewal energy for their Point Henry Aluminium Smelting facility in the near future”.
Anglesea Air Action community forum at the Anglesea Memorial Hall, McMillian Street, Anglesea on Sunday 11th September at 2pm.
Speakers will include Dr Marion Carey, Senior Research Fellow, Monash Sustainability Institute, who will discuss the effects of coal and air pollution on public health; Dr Merryn Redenbach, Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), who will outline the health impacts of coal upon children; and Mike Lawrence, Anglesea Air Action, who will discuss the environmental and climate impacts of the mine expansion and viable renewable energy solutions for the facility.
For more information about the Anglesea Air Action Campaign please contact: Mike Lawrence on 0428 446 717
For more information related to coal mine health issues please contact: Dr Merryn Redenbach – DEA Doctors for the Environment, merrynredenbach@gmail.com 0407 825 046
For more information related to coal mine pollution in Anglesea, please contact: Dr Jacinta Morahan 0419 357 971
