Stop the charcoal factory!

May 22, 2002
Issue 

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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