Environment groups in NSW Hunter claim that Kurri Kurri’s gas-fired power plants are a “white Elephant” that will cause irreparable damage to their grandchildren’s future.
Monday’s announcement by Sussan Ley, federal environment minister, that the Hunter Power Project has received final environmental approval following a rigorous assessment was made.
Ms Ley stated that the 660 MW plant would create up to 600 direct jobs during peak construction and 1200 indirect jobs throughout the state.
Environmental activists claim that the community was misled about the potential number of jobs the power plant would create.
Lynn Benn, of the Gas Free Hunter Alliance, said that the project is divisive within Kurri Kurri.
Ms Benn stated that some people believe it will bring a lot more jobs to the area.
“And we desperately require jobs, so there are some people that are strongly in favor of it, but they’ve been misled about the downstream benefits.”
According to Snowy Hydro, the government-owned energy company Snowy Hydro’s Environmental Impact Statement to the NSW Planning Department, there will be ten permanent full-time job opportunities in the local area and 250 jobs during construction.
There were 221 submissions made by individuals. The NSW major projects website had 217 objections. Three of these offered commentary.
Ms Benn suggested that the site could be used for an innovation center instead.
“There were high expectations for that particular site. She said that it could have been a regenerative center for many incubator industries and new start ups.
“But that kind if activity is not going come and share a website with a with the gas power plant, so it’s a lost opportunity to create jobs.”
Jan Davis, President Hunter Environment Lobby, stated that the project is a wasteful of taxpayer dollars.
“We don’t need it.” Ms. Davis stated that renewables are becoming more popular, and she told AAP.
“There’s a greater chance that this white elephant will appear.”
She expressed concern for her grandchildren’s future and the region’s future.
Ms. Davis stated that “It’s an uncertain world, not just with jobs in the future, but if you keep going down the fossil fuel pathway, what kind of what sort certainty is that?”
“We have fires, floods and cyclones in places we never had them before. I worry about my grandchildren’s future.”
Australian Associated Press