Latest news with #NSWEnvironmentProtectionAuthority
The Advertiser
09-07-2025
- General
- The Advertiser
'Burning diesel' stink wafts through Kurri Kurri, EPA investigates
A foul, burning diesel-like smell has reportedly settled over Kurri Kurri. Residents noticed a strong odour wafting through the Hunter town on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 8, and into Wednesday, July 9. Federal member for the Hunter, Dan Repacholi, said he had been contacted by a number of concerned locals about the foul smell. In an online statement, he said it had reportedly caused breathing difficulties, especially in children. Concerned residents have contacted the Newcastle Herald to complain of the "burning diesel" smell and fumes visible in the air. One Black Hill resident said that at about 10.30am on Wednesday morning, she could almost "taste" the smell. Residents all the way in Wallsend, West Wallsend and Booragul also reported a gas-like smell. While the source of the odour was yet to be determined, Mr Repacholi said he had reached out to the Snowy Hydro Hunter Power Project team at the Kurri gas plant to see if they had any information about the stench. Late last week, Snowy Hydro's Hunter Power Project team successfully fired up one of the Kurri Kurri stations' gas turbines for the first time. A Snowy Hydro spokesperson had said that as the commissioning process continues throughout this week, emissions would be noticeable, with improvements expected next week. "We have continuous emissions monitoring on-site, and we are currently operating within environmental compliance limits," they said. The Newcastle Herald understands that the turbine was being tested on diesel, but once it is fully operational, it will run on gas. The NSW Environment Protection Authority has confirmed it is investigating the incident but has not yet determined if the smell was linked to the gas plant. Have you noticed the stink? Contact news@ A foul, burning diesel-like smell has reportedly settled over Kurri Kurri. Residents noticed a strong odour wafting through the Hunter town on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 8, and into Wednesday, July 9. Federal member for the Hunter, Dan Repacholi, said he had been contacted by a number of concerned locals about the foul smell. In an online statement, he said it had reportedly caused breathing difficulties, especially in children. Concerned residents have contacted the Newcastle Herald to complain of the "burning diesel" smell and fumes visible in the air. One Black Hill resident said that at about 10.30am on Wednesday morning, she could almost "taste" the smell. Residents all the way in Wallsend, West Wallsend and Booragul also reported a gas-like smell. While the source of the odour was yet to be determined, Mr Repacholi said he had reached out to the Snowy Hydro Hunter Power Project team at the Kurri gas plant to see if they had any information about the stench. Late last week, Snowy Hydro's Hunter Power Project team successfully fired up one of the Kurri Kurri stations' gas turbines for the first time. A Snowy Hydro spokesperson had said that as the commissioning process continues throughout this week, emissions would be noticeable, with improvements expected next week. "We have continuous emissions monitoring on-site, and we are currently operating within environmental compliance limits," they said. The Newcastle Herald understands that the turbine was being tested on diesel, but once it is fully operational, it will run on gas. The NSW Environment Protection Authority has confirmed it is investigating the incident but has not yet determined if the smell was linked to the gas plant. Have you noticed the stink? Contact news@ A foul, burning diesel-like smell has reportedly settled over Kurri Kurri. Residents noticed a strong odour wafting through the Hunter town on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 8, and into Wednesday, July 9. Federal member for the Hunter, Dan Repacholi, said he had been contacted by a number of concerned locals about the foul smell. In an online statement, he said it had reportedly caused breathing difficulties, especially in children. Concerned residents have contacted the Newcastle Herald to complain of the "burning diesel" smell and fumes visible in the air. One Black Hill resident said that at about 10.30am on Wednesday morning, she could almost "taste" the smell. Residents all the way in Wallsend, West Wallsend and Booragul also reported a gas-like smell. While the source of the odour was yet to be determined, Mr Repacholi said he had reached out to the Snowy Hydro Hunter Power Project team at the Kurri gas plant to see if they had any information about the stench. Late last week, Snowy Hydro's Hunter Power Project team successfully fired up one of the Kurri Kurri stations' gas turbines for the first time. A Snowy Hydro spokesperson had said that as the commissioning process continues throughout this week, emissions would be noticeable, with improvements expected next week. "We have continuous emissions monitoring on-site, and we are currently operating within environmental compliance limits," they said. The Newcastle Herald understands that the turbine was being tested on diesel, but once it is fully operational, it will run on gas. The NSW Environment Protection Authority has confirmed it is investigating the incident but has not yet determined if the smell was linked to the gas plant. Have you noticed the stink? Contact news@ A foul, burning diesel-like smell has reportedly settled over Kurri Kurri. Residents noticed a strong odour wafting through the Hunter town on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 8, and into Wednesday, July 9. Federal member for the Hunter, Dan Repacholi, said he had been contacted by a number of concerned locals about the foul smell. In an online statement, he said it had reportedly caused breathing difficulties, especially in children. Concerned residents have contacted the Newcastle Herald to complain of the "burning diesel" smell and fumes visible in the air. One Black Hill resident said that at about 10.30am on Wednesday morning, she could almost "taste" the smell. Residents all the way in Wallsend, West Wallsend and Booragul also reported a gas-like smell. While the source of the odour was yet to be determined, Mr Repacholi said he had reached out to the Snowy Hydro Hunter Power Project team at the Kurri gas plant to see if they had any information about the stench. Late last week, Snowy Hydro's Hunter Power Project team successfully fired up one of the Kurri Kurri stations' gas turbines for the first time. A Snowy Hydro spokesperson had said that as the commissioning process continues throughout this week, emissions would be noticeable, with improvements expected next week. "We have continuous emissions monitoring on-site, and we are currently operating within environmental compliance limits," they said. The Newcastle Herald understands that the turbine was being tested on diesel, but once it is fully operational, it will run on gas. The NSW Environment Protection Authority has confirmed it is investigating the incident but has not yet determined if the smell was linked to the gas plant. Have you noticed the stink? Contact news@
The Advertiser
26-06-2025
- Climate
- The Advertiser
Emission targets on track but nature in 'deep trouble'
More scorching days over 35C are on the horizon, hundreds of species are considered threatened and a landfill crisis is looming with rubbish piling up rapidly, a "truly alarming" report shows. The State of the Environment 2024, released every three years by the NSW Environment Protection Authority, found each person in the most populous state generated an average of 2.7 tonnes of waste in 2022-23. That's the equivalent of about three small cars being thrown out. Authority chief executive Tony Chappel praised the marked jump in renewable energy powering 34 per cent of NSW's electricity, compared to less than 20 per cent five years ago. Bet he warned about "serious" environmental concerns particularly biodiversity loss and waste management. There were now 1018 threatened species, an increase of 36 since 2020, the report found. More hot days over 35C are expected as well as severe fire weather and extreme rainfall adding to the slew of catastrophic flood events that have pummelled NSW in recent years. Plastic litter has dropped by 55 per cent, smashing the 2025 target of a 30 per cent reduction, but greater Sydney's landfill capacity is projected to run out by 2030. Waste generation has outpaced population growth, rising from 18.7 million tonnes in 2015-16 to 22.4 million tonnes in 2022-23. Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said the 676-page report tabled in parliament on Thursday was not all doom and gloom despite the sizeable climate challenges facing the state. The latest figures show NSW is on track to cut emissions by 46 per cent in 2030 and 62 per cent in 2035. Legislated climate targets for NSW are to reach 50 per reduction by 2030, 70 per cent by 2035, and net zero by 2050. "Our first priority is to reduce emissions by 50 per cent by 2030," she said. "We are very close - only four per cent off with five years to go. But we aren't naive. Meeting our targets will be hard." The Climate Council said the state government was making strong progress to cut climate pollution but NSW couldn't afford any more extensions being granted to polluting coal and gas projects. However, other environmental groups such as the Nature Conservation Council of NSW said the report made for a "truly alarming" read. "Nature in NSW is in deep trouble and those in power are failing to turn this alarming trajectory around," council chief executive Jacqui Mumford said. "Our state's environment is being mismanaged and until the developers, irrigators and logging companies are kicked out of government back-rooms, nothing will change." More scorching days over 35C are on the horizon, hundreds of species are considered threatened and a landfill crisis is looming with rubbish piling up rapidly, a "truly alarming" report shows. The State of the Environment 2024, released every three years by the NSW Environment Protection Authority, found each person in the most populous state generated an average of 2.7 tonnes of waste in 2022-23. That's the equivalent of about three small cars being thrown out. Authority chief executive Tony Chappel praised the marked jump in renewable energy powering 34 per cent of NSW's electricity, compared to less than 20 per cent five years ago. Bet he warned about "serious" environmental concerns particularly biodiversity loss and waste management. There were now 1018 threatened species, an increase of 36 since 2020, the report found. More hot days over 35C are expected as well as severe fire weather and extreme rainfall adding to the slew of catastrophic flood events that have pummelled NSW in recent years. Plastic litter has dropped by 55 per cent, smashing the 2025 target of a 30 per cent reduction, but greater Sydney's landfill capacity is projected to run out by 2030. Waste generation has outpaced population growth, rising from 18.7 million tonnes in 2015-16 to 22.4 million tonnes in 2022-23. Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said the 676-page report tabled in parliament on Thursday was not all doom and gloom despite the sizeable climate challenges facing the state. The latest figures show NSW is on track to cut emissions by 46 per cent in 2030 and 62 per cent in 2035. Legislated climate targets for NSW are to reach 50 per reduction by 2030, 70 per cent by 2035, and net zero by 2050. "Our first priority is to reduce emissions by 50 per cent by 2030," she said. "We are very close - only four per cent off with five years to go. But we aren't naive. Meeting our targets will be hard." The Climate Council said the state government was making strong progress to cut climate pollution but NSW couldn't afford any more extensions being granted to polluting coal and gas projects. However, other environmental groups such as the Nature Conservation Council of NSW said the report made for a "truly alarming" read. "Nature in NSW is in deep trouble and those in power are failing to turn this alarming trajectory around," council chief executive Jacqui Mumford said. "Our state's environment is being mismanaged and until the developers, irrigators and logging companies are kicked out of government back-rooms, nothing will change." More scorching days over 35C are on the horizon, hundreds of species are considered threatened and a landfill crisis is looming with rubbish piling up rapidly, a "truly alarming" report shows. The State of the Environment 2024, released every three years by the NSW Environment Protection Authority, found each person in the most populous state generated an average of 2.7 tonnes of waste in 2022-23. That's the equivalent of about three small cars being thrown out. Authority chief executive Tony Chappel praised the marked jump in renewable energy powering 34 per cent of NSW's electricity, compared to less than 20 per cent five years ago. Bet he warned about "serious" environmental concerns particularly biodiversity loss and waste management. There were now 1018 threatened species, an increase of 36 since 2020, the report found. More hot days over 35C are expected as well as severe fire weather and extreme rainfall adding to the slew of catastrophic flood events that have pummelled NSW in recent years. Plastic litter has dropped by 55 per cent, smashing the 2025 target of a 30 per cent reduction, but greater Sydney's landfill capacity is projected to run out by 2030. Waste generation has outpaced population growth, rising from 18.7 million tonnes in 2015-16 to 22.4 million tonnes in 2022-23. Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said the 676-page report tabled in parliament on Thursday was not all doom and gloom despite the sizeable climate challenges facing the state. The latest figures show NSW is on track to cut emissions by 46 per cent in 2030 and 62 per cent in 2035. Legislated climate targets for NSW are to reach 50 per reduction by 2030, 70 per cent by 2035, and net zero by 2050. "Our first priority is to reduce emissions by 50 per cent by 2030," she said. "We are very close - only four per cent off with five years to go. But we aren't naive. Meeting our targets will be hard." The Climate Council said the state government was making strong progress to cut climate pollution but NSW couldn't afford any more extensions being granted to polluting coal and gas projects. However, other environmental groups such as the Nature Conservation Council of NSW said the report made for a "truly alarming" read. "Nature in NSW is in deep trouble and those in power are failing to turn this alarming trajectory around," council chief executive Jacqui Mumford said. "Our state's environment is being mismanaged and until the developers, irrigators and logging companies are kicked out of government back-rooms, nothing will change." More scorching days over 35C are on the horizon, hundreds of species are considered threatened and a landfill crisis is looming with rubbish piling up rapidly, a "truly alarming" report shows. The State of the Environment 2024, released every three years by the NSW Environment Protection Authority, found each person in the most populous state generated an average of 2.7 tonnes of waste in 2022-23. That's the equivalent of about three small cars being thrown out. Authority chief executive Tony Chappel praised the marked jump in renewable energy powering 34 per cent of NSW's electricity, compared to less than 20 per cent five years ago. Bet he warned about "serious" environmental concerns particularly biodiversity loss and waste management. There were now 1018 threatened species, an increase of 36 since 2020, the report found. More hot days over 35C are expected as well as severe fire weather and extreme rainfall adding to the slew of catastrophic flood events that have pummelled NSW in recent years. Plastic litter has dropped by 55 per cent, smashing the 2025 target of a 30 per cent reduction, but greater Sydney's landfill capacity is projected to run out by 2030. Waste generation has outpaced population growth, rising from 18.7 million tonnes in 2015-16 to 22.4 million tonnes in 2022-23. Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said the 676-page report tabled in parliament on Thursday was not all doom and gloom despite the sizeable climate challenges facing the state. The latest figures show NSW is on track to cut emissions by 46 per cent in 2030 and 62 per cent in 2035. Legislated climate targets for NSW are to reach 50 per reduction by 2030, 70 per cent by 2035, and net zero by 2050. "Our first priority is to reduce emissions by 50 per cent by 2030," she said. "We are very close - only four per cent off with five years to go. But we aren't naive. Meeting our targets will be hard." The Climate Council said the state government was making strong progress to cut climate pollution but NSW couldn't afford any more extensions being granted to polluting coal and gas projects. However, other environmental groups such as the Nature Conservation Council of NSW said the report made for a "truly alarming" read. "Nature in NSW is in deep trouble and those in power are failing to turn this alarming trajectory around," council chief executive Jacqui Mumford said. "Our state's environment is being mismanaged and until the developers, irrigators and logging companies are kicked out of government back-rooms, nothing will change."
The Age
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Damning environmental scorecard as NSW abandons old Net Zero Plan
NSW is on track to miss greenhouse gas targets, its inland rivers are dying, land clearing is rampant, and the number of threatened species has increased, according to a damning new report card on the state's environmental performance. The Minns government will scrap the Net Zero Plan it inherited from the Coalition and write a new one to meet legally mandated reductions of 50 per cent by 2030, 70 per cent by 2035 and net zero by 2050. At present, it is expected to meet 46 per cent in 2030 and 62 per cent in 2035, according to the Net Zero Emissions Dashboard updated on Thursday. The 2035 outlook is now worse than it was a year ago when the NSW government first revealed it was on track to miss the targets. Minister for Climate Change and Environment Penny Sharpe said the new Net Zero Plan would take a sector-by-sector approach to decarbonisation, with input from all relevant portfolio ministers for the first time. 'The previous Net Zero Plan was done in 2020 and the numbers that were used were best-case scenario. A lot has changed since then,' Sharpe said. 'Our new plan will take in the latest information and help us reach the targets that the Minns government enshrined in law.' In parliament on Thursday, Sharpe tabled the NSW Environment Protection Authority's statutory State of the Environment report, which comes out every three years, and also the whole-of-government response to the Net Zero Commission's first annual report released in November 2024. The 676-page State of the Environment report reveals a devastating decline since the last report in 2021, and the capacity of NSW ecosystems to sustain life has been slashed to 29 per cent of its natural level since colonisation. Eighteen species of animals were added to the threatened species list since 2021, and 18 species of plants since 2020. The population and distribution of native mammals, birds and fish, and the impact of invasive species were all moderate to poor and getting worse. Without effective management, only half of the 657 plant species and half of the 991 land animal species listed as threatened are predicted to survive in 100 years' time, the report says. 'The government does not shy away from the grim reports on the environment,' Sharpe said. 'I am focused on turning this around. Action on the energy transition, biodiversity and law reform to better protect the environment is under way. Turning the dial will take time and we are honest about that.'
Sydney Morning Herald
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Damning environmental scorecard as NSW abandons old Net Zero Plan
NSW is on track to miss greenhouse gas targets, its inland rivers are dying, land clearing is rampant, and the number of threatened species has increased, according to a damning new report card on the state's environmental performance. The Minns government will scrap the Net Zero Plan it inherited from the Coalition and write a new one to meet legally mandated reductions of 50 per cent by 2030, 70 per cent by 2035 and net zero by 2050. At present, it is expected to meet 46 per cent in 2030 and 62 per cent in 2035, according to the Net Zero Emissions Dashboard updated on Thursday. The 2035 outlook is now worse than it was a year ago when the NSW government first revealed it was on track to miss the targets. Minister for Climate Change and Environment Penny Sharpe said the new Net Zero Plan would take a sector-by-sector approach to decarbonisation, with input from all relevant portfolio ministers for the first time. 'The previous Net Zero Plan was done in 2020 and the numbers that were used were best-case scenario. A lot has changed since then,' Sharpe said. 'Our new plan will take in the latest information and help us reach the targets that the Minns government enshrined in law.' In parliament on Thursday, Sharpe tabled the NSW Environment Protection Authority's statutory State of the Environment report, which comes out every three years, and also the whole-of-government response to the Net Zero Commission's first annual report released in November 2024. The 676-page State of the Environment report reveals a devastating decline since the last report in 2021, and the capacity of NSW ecosystems to sustain life has been slashed to 29 per cent of its natural level since colonisation. Eighteen species of animals were added to the threatened species list since 2021, and 18 species of plants since 2020. The population and distribution of native mammals, birds and fish, and the impact of invasive species were all moderate to poor and getting worse. Without effective management, only half of the 657 plant species and half of the 991 land animal species listed as threatened are predicted to survive in 100 years' time, the report says. 'The government does not shy away from the grim reports on the environment,' Sharpe said. 'I am focused on turning this around. Action on the energy transition, biodiversity and law reform to better protect the environment is under way. Turning the dial will take time and we are honest about that.'
Perth Now
26-06-2025
- Climate
- Perth Now
Emission targets on track but nature in 'deep trouble'
More scorching days over 35C are on the horizon, hundreds of species are considered threatened and a landfill crisis is looming with rubbish piling up rapidly, a "truly alarming" report shows. The State of the Environment 2024, released every three years by the NSW Environment Protection Authority, found each person in the most populous state generated an average of 2.7 tonnes of waste in 2022-23. That's the equivalent of about three small cars being thrown out. Authority chief executive Tony Chappel praised the marked jump in renewable energy powering 34 per cent of NSW's electricity, compared to less than 20 per cent five years ago. Bet he warned about "serious" environmental concerns particularly biodiversity loss and waste management. There were now 1018 threatened species, an increase of 36 since 2020, the report found. More hot days over 35C are expected as well as severe fire weather and extreme rainfall adding to the slew of catastrophic flood events that have pummelled NSW in recent years. Plastic litter has dropped by 55 per cent, smashing the 2025 target of a 30 per cent reduction, but greater Sydney's landfill capacity is projected to run out by 2030. Waste generation has outpaced population growth, rising from 18.7 million tonnes in 2015-16 to 22.4 million tonnes in 2022-23. Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said the 676-page report tabled in parliament on Thursday was not all doom and gloom despite the sizeable climate challenges facing the state. The latest figures show NSW is on track to cut emissions by 46 per cent in 2030 and 62 per cent in 2035. Legislated climate targets for NSW are to reach 50 per reduction by 2030, 70 per cent by 2035, and net zero by 2050. "Our first priority is to reduce emissions by 50 per cent by 2030," she said. "We are very close - only four per cent off with five years to go. But we aren't naive. Meeting our targets will be hard." The Climate Council said the state government was making strong progress to cut climate pollution but NSW couldn't afford any more extensions being granted to polluting coal and gas projects. However, other environmental groups such as the Nature Conservation Council of NSW said the report made for a "truly alarming" read. "Nature in NSW is in deep trouble and those in power are failing to turn this alarming trajectory around," council chief executive Jacqui Mumford said. "Our state's environment is being mismanaged and until the developers, irrigators and logging companies are kicked out of government back-rooms, nothing will change."
