Power station plan is not buried yet

Melanie Maeseele | 1st December 2009

THE company at the centre of a gas-fired power station proposal that was unanimously rejected are appealing the decision.

ON AGAIN: Lockyer Valley Mayor Steve Jones with residents Robert Fowke and Anita Morrison who objected to the proposal.

Queensland Times

THE company at the centre of a gas-fired power station proposal that was unanimously rejected are appealing the decision.

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Lockyer Valley Regional Council’s Laidley chambers last month to hear council’s decision on the power station proposed for Mulgowie Road in Laidley.

Cheers of relief echoed through the chambers as council handed down its decision but their celebrations have been short-lived.

Privately-owned company National Power (NP Power), on behalf of Babcock and Brown, NP Power and Mulgowie Road Power Pty Ltd, last week lodged a Brisbane Planning and Environmental Court appeal to have its application for a low emission power plant reviewed.

NP Power project director Greg Brown said the company was legally not in a position to comment further on the appeal.

“NP Power is not in a position to comment at any length on the current lodgement of an appeal to the Planning and Environment Court, other than it was lodged in accordance with the legislative requirements,” Mr Brown said. “It can take a number of months before we are notified of the outcome. It’s at least a three-month process .”

Lockyer Valley Mayor Steve Jones said he found out council’s decision had been appealed last Friday.

“I only heard at the last minute that they made an appeal. I’m not surprised,” Cr Jones said.

“It’s not uncommon and that’s usually what happens with contentious applications.

“I don’t think anyone has anything to fear. With an appeal its just a further court examination of the facts that are put on the table and if the facts are clear, that should be reflected on the result.” Mr Brown told the QT last month the development would bring several benefits to residents in the Lockyer Valley, despite claims the development would devalue prime agricultural land in the nation’s salad bowl.

He said the project would have the capacity to employ between 200 to 300 people during construction.

Mr Brown said the land, which was the site of a disused piggery at Ham Hill, would provide the region with an “environmentally friendly” development.

“We have always held the opinions of the community very highly,” Mr Brown said. “There is a need for this power plant and we have investigated all options. There is a lot of misinformation in the community.”