Energy minister Angus Taylor draws fire from Hunter community groups as he announces Commonwealth approval of Snowy Hydro power plant.
Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction, Angus Taylor will visit Kurri Kurri to announce the approval of the controversial Snowy Hydro gas-diesel power plant Monday morning. Assessment of the proposed power plant by both the NSW and Commonwealth Governments has drawn fire from community groups in the Hunter region.
“Today’s announcement is bad for the Hunter, and bad for Australia,” said Gas Free Hunter Alliance coordinator Fiona Lee.
“As Commonwealth Environment Minister, Sussan Ley should be protecting the environment, not rubber stamping dirty, outdated fossil fuel projects which will worsen the impacts of climate change and pollute the local environment,” said Ms Lee.
“Mr Taylor appears to lack all commitment to supporting regional communities to transition away from fossil fuels, or to taking real action on climate change,” she said.
“The Hunter region needs secure, future-focused jobs. Investing $610 million or more of public funds into an unnecessary and outdated gas plant will create just 10 long-term jobs. Instead, we call on Mr Taylor to fund renewable energy and storage, and to retrain workers in fossil fuel reliant industries.”
Retired TAFE teacher, Kurri-based grandmother Ms Lynn Benn said, “At a time when we need to rapidly move away from fossil fuels, I cannot see that this proposed gas powered plant makes sense from any angle. But I am most incensed at the waste of taxpayers money. If it makes sense then let private enterprise build it. For that amount of money we could safeguard Kurri hospital, give our local bush fire brigades a much needed boost or provide something for the local kids to do. Let’s look to the future, not the past.”
Over 55,000 thousand people have signed petitions opposing the power plant. Of the 261 submissions on the proposed power plant, only two supported it.