Stop the charcoal factory!

BY BRETT MULLER

On May 1, NSW planning minister Andrew Refshauge approved Australian
Silicon Ltd's proposed development of a charcoal factory at Mogo, on the
NSW south coast. The department received more than 1530 submissions from
1220 individuals and groups; only 19 supported the project.

The Mogo factory will take “waste” timber from the local area and produce
charcoal to be used in a proposed silicon smelter in Lithgow. Local residents
are concerned that pollutants emitted from the factory will severely impact
on both air and water quality, resulting in increased health problems.
They also fear the impact on the environment. Local traders are also opposed
to the factory, as the south coast economy is heavily dependant on tourism.

The 73-hectare charcoal plant will be 4kms south of Mogo, and less than
3kms from the schools and retirement villages in Broulee. The plant, with
its five, 33-metre tall chimneys, will operate 24 hours a day, 350 days
a year. It will consume a massive 200,000 tonnes of timber each year, for
the next 20 years.

Local residents are demanding an investigation into the recent poisoning
of trees by State Forests (the NSW government's forestry commission). State
Forests claims that this is a normal practice in the cultivation of forests
and has nothing to do with the charcoal plant, but residents are not convinced.

A charcoal and silicon plant in Western Australia, owned by Simcoa Operations,
each year emits 200,000kg of carbon dioxide, 1300kg of volatile organic
compounds and 58,000kg of sulphur dioxide. All these compounds are harmful
to people's health and the environment.

Australian Silicon claims a maximum of five trucks will move through
the area each day, however it has been revealed that more than 70 trucks
will be required to ship the huge amounts of timber, charcoal and waste
products each day.

The Coastwatchers Association has formed the Charcoalition to oppose
the plant. The coalition has rallied support throughout the south coast.
Local councils are also backing calls for the NSW Labor government to listen
to the community and not to profit-driven corporations.

The Charcoalition has vowed to continue the fight and has begun holding
non-violent direct action workshops. On May 25, Charcoalition members will
protest outside the Labor Party conference in Sydney.

There will be a public meeting on May 22, 5pm, at the Manning Clarke
Centre, Australian National University. Visit <http://www.charcoalition.forests.org.au>.

From Green Left Weekly, May 22, 2002.

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From GLW issue 493