Royal Commission needed into Port Augusta power station closure: Mayor

A ROYAL Commission must examine the health impacts of the Port Augusta power station’s operation and closure, the city’s Mayor has demanded.

• Dust clouds cause breathing problems for Port Augusta residents
• Under fire Ian Hunter promises dust solutions
• Test results show fly ash is affecting residents’ health
• Political storm as Port Augusta ash clouds continue to cause havoc

A ROYAL commission must investigate the health impacts of the Port Augusta power station’s operation and closure, the city’s mayor has demanded.

Mayor Sam Johnson said Port Augusta had been home to the state’s “biggest science experiment” and no city should “ever be subject to such conditions as we have”.

His urging comes after dust clouds from the decommissioned Northern Power Station site again smothered Port Augusta this week.

Employment Minister Kyam Maher said remediation was the sole responsibility of Flinders Power.

“It is difficult to see a justification for a royal commission if Flinders Power are fulfilling their obligations to remediate the site,” he said.

Both the Opposition and SA Best stopped short of supporting a royal commission but said Mr Johnson’s fury was “completely justified”.

Liberal MP for Stuart Dan van Holst Pellekaan said the health risks associated with the Holden closure had been handled entirely differently.

SA Best leader Nick Xenophon said a Royal Commission would have already been held if Port Augusta were located in metropolitan Adelaide.

Mr Xenophon said “hundreds” of Port Augusta residents may have died prematurely because of the power station’s operations, but also hit out at its “botched” closure.

“If what happened in Port Augusta happened in a metropolitan area there would have been a royal commission years ago,” he said.

The State Government and site manager Flinders Power say this week’s flare-up only contained dust, unlike 12 months ago when wild winds cloaked the city in clouds of fly ash.

But it was enough for fed-up residents to hit out at the health risk posed.

Mr Johnson said he sympathised “in part” with Flinders Power, but maintained potential problems should have been prepared for much earlier.

“We all know at times things don’t go to plan, and sometimes people get it wrong. But admit it and fix it,” he said.

“Port Augusta and its people are sick and tired of being guinea pigs.

“The day for a royal commission into the effects of the lifetime operation and health impacts of the coal fired power station and its closure is now due.”

Mr Johnson blasted Environment Minister Ian Hunter for a “lack of compassion” and said he must order a royal commission to prove his competence.

Mr Hunter this week conceded the situation was “incredibly frustrating” for residents, but said there was no “short term fix”.

About 90 per cent of the site is covered by topsoil, with the remaining area of the ash dam covered with suppresant.

A Flinders Power spokesman said water carts would continue to be used to prevent dust outbreaks, but preventing dust storms remained “a challenge” in strong winds.

He said the company had made “good progress” in growing vegetation and sealing the ash dam area with topsoil.

But more rain was required to foster plant growth, he said.

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