EPA seeks public feed back on Vales Point emissions exemption for another five years

For the first time the state’s environmental watchdog is offering the public the chance to have a say on Vales Point power station’s future pollution emissions. Here’s everything you need to know.

Delta Electricity wants to extend an exemption to its licence for Vales Point Power Station that would allow it to continue to emit almost double the amount of nitrogen oxides than it should under strict emission limits for another five years.

As part of its comprehensive assessment process, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has offered members of the public an opportunity to make a submission on Delta’s application.

Delta Electricity has welcomed the move by the environmental watchdog to seek public feedback.

Environmental groups, meanwhile, have claimed it as a small win.

Vales Point Power Station on the shores of Lake Macquarie. Picture: Peter Lorimer

Under its current exemption, which ends on January 1 next year, the Vales Point Power Station is allowed to emit 1500 milligrams of nitrogen oxides per cubic metre of exhaust.

For a power station of its age it should have been restricted to 800 milligrams per cubic metre since tougher restrictions were introduced in 2012 under the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2021 Act.

In December last year the company applied for another extension to its exemption for a further five years until January 1, 2027.

Since then the Nature Conservation Council (NCC) and community group Future Sooner have been lobbying the EPA to give those most affected a say in whether or not the licence is renewed and the exemption is extended.

Delta is applying to extend its emissions exemption at Vales Point Power Station.

NCC chief executive Chris Gambian said the EPA had “done the right thing by giving people who live in the shadow of this industrial facility a chance to have their voices heard”.

“Vales Point is one of the state’s biggest polluters and should not be granted another five-year exemption from the Clean Air Regulation,” he said.

“This power station is not only fuelling climate change, it is harming the health of hundreds of kids on the Central Coast. The free ride has to end.”

Future Sooner spokesman Will Belford said it was good the EPA was allowing public submissions but it had only given residents three weeks to respond “while it has allowed Delta nearly nine moths to defend its polluting behaviour”.

Environmental groups are happy the EPA is giving people who live in the shadow of Vales Point Power Station a say in its future emissions. Picture: Toby Zerna

“For the first time ever, the EPA is offering the public the opportunity to make submissions into Vales Point licence to pollute more,” he said.

“Delta has admitted that it is technically feasible to clean up its power station, but it doesn’t want to spend the money.”

However Delta Electricity strongly rejects the NCC and Future Sooner’s claims, labelling them “factually incorrect and misleading”.

It states its nitrogen oxides emissions already comply with the 800 milligrams per cubic metre limit for 98 per cent of the time.

It further states that while it was technically feasible to retrofit its boilers to comply with the limit 100 per cent of the time, it was not economically feasible for a utility nearing the end of its life.

The power station is due to be decommissioned in 2029.

Delta chairman Trevor St Baker (second from left) and managing director Greg Everett (second from right) at Vales point Power Station. Picture: Mark Scott

In documents supporting its application, Delta states forcing it to comply with the limits 100 per cent of the time would lower its efficiency and potentially cause it to close earlier, putting a premature strain on electricity supply into the network.

Company spokesman Steve Gurney said independent EPA analysis also consistently showed the air quality on the Central Coast and Lake Macquarie was among the best in the state.

Delta Electricity managing director Greg Everett told the Express Advocate there was a level of scaremongering when “nothing has changed and if anything it’s getting better”.

Submissions to the EPA close on November 10.