PORT Waratah Coal Services’ fourth coal terminal (T4) in the Port of Newcastle has been approved.
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The state government’s Planning Assessment Commission approved the $5 billion terminal, attaching ‘‘stringent conditions’’ to the project.
In its assessment, the commission said the project was ‘‘unusual’’, as there was no immediate need for the development of the terminal.
‘‘The current volatility of the coal market and the timing uncertainties associated with the project were central considerations in the determination of the application,’’ it said.
‘‘The commission has sought to achieve planning certainty for the project, whilst securing public interest benefits in relation to site remediation and protection of biodiversity values.’’
It said although the site was highly contaminated, it still supported threatened species and migratory shorebirds. T
he commission said the project had the capacity to ensure that the ecological character of the adjoining Ramsar wetland site was undiminished with potential for tangible longer term improvements in the biodiversity values of the Hunter estuary.
The project would also also generate employment and economic inputs to the local and regional economy, it said.
The Greens have labelled the approval of the fourth coal export terminal as ‘‘absolute madness in an era of climate change’’.
Newcastle Greens councillor Michael Osborne said this approval ignored the impact expanding coal would have on the health of local residents and the wider issue of climate change.