Background information on T4
What is T4?
T4 is a proposed massive new coal terminal in Newcastle, NSW. At full capacity, T4 would ship out 120 million tonnes of coal per annum. This would equate to a tripling of the size of the coal port (see graph below). Port Waratah Coal Services (PWCS) are the company that are proposing this development. They want to construct T4 in Kooragang, with a conveyor belt crossing the Hunter River and ship-loading facilities on the Mayfield side of the river.
Why do we want to stop T4 from being constructed?
If T4 goes ahead, it would mean:
– More coal dust. Coal stockpiles would total almost 10km in length, and be more than 20m high. These uncovered coal stockpiles would be less than 2km from urban areas, and would radically increase the coal dust problem in Newcastle suburbs.
– More coal trains. 47 coal trains per day would be needed to deliver coal to T4. These trains would be uncovered, polluting towns and suburbs all through the Hunter with coal dust. These coal trains would also emit large volumes of diesel exhaust – a proven carcinogen – into urban environments.
– More coal mines. You can’t double coal exports without doubling coal mining. If T4 goes ahead, it would need about 22 average sized coal mines to supply the coal. Communities, waterways, farmland and bushland are already being ripped apart by coal mines. If T4 goes ahead, it will get a lot worse.
– Lost biodiversity. The proposed T4 site is part of the globally important Hunter Estuary, and shares a border with the Hunter Wetlands National Park. Twenty-one threatened species are known to use the site. T4 would destroy critical habitat for globally migrating bird species, and could mean the regional extinction of the Green and Golden Bell Frog. To read more about the ecological impacts of T4, click here.
– More global warming. Global warming is now happening faster than scientists ever thought possible, and coal is one of the main causes. The greenhouse pollution from coal shipped from T4, if it goes ahead, would be more than 300 million tonnes per year. That is more than every power station, and every vehicle in Australia, combined.
For all of the reasons above, we believe T4 should be stopped.
Who’s behind it and who is making the decisions?
Port Waratah Coal Services (PWCS) are the company that are pursuing T4. Mining giants Rio Tinto and Xstrata own controlling interests in PWCS. PWCS already operate two coal terminals in Newcastle, which is already the world’s largest coal port. The ownership of PWCS is displayed in the table below.
Ownership of PWCS Company Ownership (%)
Newcastle Coal Shippers
(Xstrata, Rio Tinto, Anglo Coal and PWCS) 37
Coal & Allied (Rio Tinto) 30
Japanese Importers 30
Bloomfield Collieries 3
To go ahead, T4 requires approval from the NSW and Federal governments, and neither have given their approval yet. Right now is the best time to make a noise!
What can you do to help stop T4?
– Send a letter to NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell, Planning Minister Brad Hazzard and State Member for Newcastle Tim Owen, stating that you oppose T4.
– Donate to the campaign.