In reply to the North Queensland Bulk Ports Corp media release attached that Dudgeon Point is to become a part of the complex of coal ports 10 km southeast of Mackay Airport as the crow flies."The addition of 110 million tonnes per annum of coal exports in a new coal port terminal would bring the complex of coal ports (Hay Point 44mtpa and Dalrymple Bay 85mtpa) to 239mtpa, making it by far the largest coal export port complex in the world. Fine hazardous coal particulate dust already settles from the Hay Point and Dalrymple Bay ports over Mackay at least as far north as Blacks Beach, 26km to the northwest. That amount of fine dust could now almost double once the Dudgeon Point coal terminal is online", stated Mackay Conservation Group coordinator, Patricia Julien."Mackay Conservation Group is seeking more Mackay residents to partipate in a community monitoring program of this fine coal dust to get baseline data before the Dudgeon Point coal port terminal is built. This dust can penetrate far into the lungs causing many health problems later in life. The data could assist in later claims where health problems can be linked to long-term exposure to fine coal dust levels"."We will also be asking the State government to establish PM2.5 micron particulate monitoring at sites downwind of Dudgeon Point's coal stockpiles. You can fit eighteen of these particles across the width of a hair so they are very fine. The body cannot naturally remove these particles as they penetrate too deep into the lungs", said MCG coordinator, Patricia Julien. It is indefensible for the port authorities and State government to allow expansion of coal handling facilities so close to Mackay and communities such as Louisa Creek, Bakers Creek, McEwens Beach and Timberlands."The reason for the current planned expansion of coal port facilities at Abbot Point north of Bowen to 230 mtpa, was to avoid expansion near urban areas, but that is exactly what has happened here", she explained. Noise from long coal trains potentially 2km long, running 24/7 will also be a problem, as well as further offshore dredging. Mrs. Julien urged people to put in submissions on the Dudgeopn Point proposal when it is released for public comment, and write to the Premier asking for an explanation why further coal expansion that will increase coal dust loads on Mackay and nearby communities has been allowed to proceed.The Hay Point zoning for its draft Land Use Plan which incorporates Dudgeon Point, currently has port handling zoning covering forty-five percent of shorebird high tide wader and feeding sites. These sites should be protected under federal and state legislation, and removed from the port handling zone, and a protective buffer zone should be established."It is of concern when port authroities and the Coordinator-General, who are unelected, can select the type of development to occur within port lands and also be the main assessment manager and landlord of the development. The result is a closed system where the main pressure is to select the industry which will return the highest profit, and where the local community has no power in what happens and there is no requirement for accountability to them", Mrs Julien commented.
Preferred Proponents Announced for Dudgeon Point
North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation [NQBP] CEO announced today that DBCT Management and the Adani Group are the preferred proponents for the development of new coal export infrastructure at Dudgeon Point.
CEO, Brad Fish said “We are pleased to announce that the Government has endorsed proposals from DBCT Management and the Adani Group to participate with NQBP as preferred proponents in developing a master plan for coal export facilities at Dudgeon Point.”
“NQBP has held this land for development since 2000. Its close proximity to the two coal terminals at Hay Point will support the increasing demand for coal from new and existing industry.”
“Should the preferred proponents decide to proceed after the planning process, they will be required to fund their own construction and operations with the State Government retaining ownership of the underlying land,” said Mr Fish.
The next step is for NQBP, DBCT Management and the Adani Group to prepare a master plan for coal export infrastructure at Dudgeon Point to assist the State and NQBP to evaluate options for meeting development demands. The master plan will assist in the potential allocation of land to each of the preferred proponents for the construction of coal export infrastructure with the balance of land retained by NQBP for future development.
The master planning studies will also give consideration to any environmental sensitivities at Dudgeon Point.
DBCT Management leases the adjacent Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal which it has recently expanded to 85 million tonnes per annum, which is the maximum capacity on the available footprint. DBCT Management plans to provide new capacity in the Port of Hay Point in response to access requests that DBCT Management has advised it has received from customers of the expansion of DBCT.
Adani Group is a large conglomerate based in India and is the operator of the largest private port in that country. It is involved in many other businesses including power generation and coal mining.
Dudgeon Point is located approximately 15 kilometres south of Mackay on the Queensland Coast and lies within the Port of Hay Point about four kilometres north of the existing coal terminals.
For more information contact:
Mary Steele
NQBP Corporate Relations
|