Port Waratah Coal Services is proposing to build a fourth coal export terminal in Newcastle and we need your help to stop them.  

We urgently need people to send submissions to the Department of Planning opposing the project.

The deadline for submissions is 5pm 7 May.

The Hunter Community Environment Centre is here to help activists... if you want to meet up with other environmentalists, become a member of HCEC, use the Centre's facilities, find out about local, state and national environmental issues, or get help getting in touch with other active members of the community, come along to HCEC and we can help you.

Port Waratah's proposed fourth coal terminal threatens the heatlh of the people of Newcastle and poses unacceptable threats to protected migratory shore birds. See this Newcastle Herald article for more.

State Government denies Newcastle time on terminal

16 April 2012

See attached a joint submission to the Daft Biobanking Assessment Methodology and Regulation from the Hunter Community Environment Centre and National Parks Association of NSW. January 2008.

Media release 16th October, 2007

The State Government has removed conditions imposed to limit pollution that will seep into the Hunter River following dredging operations to remove contaminated sediment left behind by BHP from their former steelworks site.

The Planning Minister last month approved changes to the conditions imposed on the dredging that were designed to protect public safety and the environment.

The Minster for Planning approved a massive dredging operation in the South Arm of the Hunter River – adjacent to the old BHP site – Now, BHP want the dredging to happen to make way for the third coal terminal.

The project has altered substantially since first approved, and the Minister is considering significant modifications without further public consultation.

The NSW Government has taken the disppointing and cowardly decision to approve the controversial Anvil Hill coal mine proposal near Denman, just days after hundreds of people travelled to the Upper Hunter to spell out their opposition to the mine.

Anvil Hill has become a focal point for the campaign to reduce NSW's contribution to climate change from export coal but has also been fiercely criticised for the massive loss of remnant woodland it will cause, and its impact on regionally important waterways.

NSW Coal Action Alert

3rd April, 2007

The Hunter Community Environment Centre has revealed today that coal reserves in NSW could run out in less than four decades, adding to urgent calls to cease coal expansion plans in the Hunter Valley.

Based on current industry growth and production rates, HCEC claims that the 10,600 million tonnes of coal under NSW will be exhausted in just 35 years.

HCEC spokesperson Georgina Woods said, “NSW is currently producing 156 million tonnes of coal per year, most of which is coming out of the Hunter Valley, and 70% of which is being sold for export.”