Questions
and
answers
AGL Dalton
Power Project:
Follow up information to
2 May 2012 community meeting
The following information is a list of the requests and
enquiries made during the community meeting held on
Wednesday 2 May 2012. AGL has prepared a response
outlining the new commitments that will be adopted into the
project, the requests that cannot be implemented into the
project and the issues that be will be further investigated.
Community
requests/concerns
Yes
No
AGL has previously committed to
installing an Air Quality Monitoring
Station at a location in Dalton upon
project approval. The units will
measure the NOx levels in the current
environment.
AGL does not control the state of
the background environment. In
the unlikely event that the existing
background levels exceeded WHO
limits we would provide this data
to the community and EPA for
action.
Maybe
Air
AGL to commit to establishing
air quality background levels that
don’t exceed the World Health
Organisation’s (WHO) standards.
AGL to install monitoring stations
(air) at multiple locations (agreed
upon by the community) at least
12 months before the plant is
operational.
AGL has committed to one
unit being installed upon
project approval. This will be
installed 18-20 months prior to
commencement of commissioning.
Real time data on air quality
monitoring that’s readily available
to the community (website).
The air quality monitoring from the
one station that we have committed
to will be continuous and will include
a readout on the unit as well as on
a data logger. This information will
also feed into real time monitoring
communication via the project website.
A commitment from AGL to install
and upgrade air emission control
measures as the technology
develops.
The plant will be maintained on a
regular basis and components such as
the low NOx burners will be replaced.
As these components are changed
out, AGL commits to using the latest
components with the best emissions
control performance available. AGL will
also commit to monitoring continual
improvements & technologies for both
the plant and the monitoring devices.
AGL is willing to
discuss scope of
monitoring at the
DCCC.
Dalton Power Project: Follow up information to
Community
requests/concerns
Yes
No
Maybe
Noise
Mitigation measures regarding
noise and air quality will be
implemented at the source
(power station) rather than at the
sensitive receivers.
The plant contains extensive source
controls for noise and emissions. In
particular:
• Low NOx burners; and
• Stack silencers.
Scrubbing emissions at the plant.
AGL is prepared to
discuss these source
control measures and
their effectiveness in
the CCC process.
Scrubbing is used to remove
emissions from an uncontrolled
combustion process. Examples
include scrubbing sulphur
dioxide and particulates from
the exhaust of coal fired power
stations. The proposed Dalton
power station has two significant
differences from this. Firstly as
a clean fuel, sulphur dioxide and
particulates are not an issue with
gas. Secondly, emissions of NOx
are controlled a low emission
combustion system which
produces levels 90% lower than an
uncontrolled turbine. This means
that a scrubber is not needed as
emissions are controlled at source.
AGL to further develop accurate
and transparent information
concerning noise guidelines.
Yes, AGL have written fact sheets that
answer concerns regarding air quality,
noise, water supply, visual impacts
and traffic. These are now on the AGL
Website. AGL will continue to provide
this type of information as the project
progresses.
Further information concerning
the potential health impacts of
noise and vibration caused by
construction and operation of the
station.
This information to be provided
through the DCCC process, with
experts available to assist the
community to understand the impacts.
Request for more information
regarding the noise levels emitted
from Class 9 FA turbines.
Further information regarding the
potential impacts and mitigation
measures for construction noise.
AGL to commit to establishing
noise limits based on the original
dB(A) and dB(C) low frequency
levels (INP treatment).
The information
from General Electric
(GE) was supplied
Commercial in
Confidence but we
will seek permission to
disclose.
‘AGL is currently developing a
Construction Environmental
Management Plan (CEMP) that will
further outline planned mitigation
measures for construction impacts
including noise. It will be made available
to the public once approved by OEH
and DP&I.
AGL commits to meet the limits
set by the OEH and DP&I.
2 May 2012 community meeting
Community
requests/concerns
Yes
No
Maybe
Water
Confirmation from AGL that the
station’s onsite bores won’t run
out of water and that further
water won’t be trucked in or
taken from other local sources.
Yes, AGL confirm that the station will
still be able to operate (though not
as effectively) in the unlikely event
that the onsite bores run out of water.
Furthermore, water will not be trucked
in, except to supplement water for the
staff such as drinking and washing. This
is not expected as AGL will have onsite
rain water tanks.
Ongoing monitoring at both
onsite and surrounding bores
(monitoring locations to be
decided upon by AGL and the
community).
Yes, a selection of bores will be
monitored to ensure no draw down of
water on surrounding bores.
Request for more information
regarding the potential impacts
air emissions could have on water
tanks.
AGL will be happy to arrange a
presentation to the DCCC by an air
quality expert.
Confirmation that AGL will use
onsite tank water.
Yes, AGL will install rainwater tanks.
Request for a comprehensive
review of the impacts and the
mitigation measures used at
similar gas fired power stations.
Yes but scope to be finalised by DCCC.
Dalton Community Consultative Committee (DCCC)
AGL to allow the community four
weeks to submit nominations for
the DCCC.
Agreed, four weeks will be allowed for
nomination period.
AGL to develop a charter
outlining the purpose of the
DCCC.
Agreed, a draft charter will be
represented at the next community
meeting for discussion and community
input.
AGL and community
to discuss a budget
allocation once DCCC
parameters and
charter agreed upon.
AGL to allocate funds to the
DCCC. This fund will be used
to assist in mitigating any
potential impacts caused by the
construction and operation of the
power station.
General
AGL to further develop a website
that provides community updates
on the construction and operation
of the power plant (real time data
on emissions, operational hours,
construction traffic movements).
Agreed, AGL will develop a website
prior to construction in consultation
with the DCCC.
AGL to commit to hosting
a community meeting at a
time when NSW MP Katrina
Hodgkinson is available to attend.
Agreed, next community meeting
to be held when suitable to the local
member.
Community
requests/concerns
Yes
No
Request for information regarding
the station’s fire plan.
A fire plan will be required as part of
any development approval. If approval
is granted, on site controls will include;
• Fire fighting equipment (hoses, fire
extinguishers) on site.
• Fire detection and extinguishing
gas measures within the turbine
enclosures, located at the back
of the plant, away from the site
perimeter.
• Slam shut valving in the gas supply
system to isolate the fuel supply in
the event of a fire or other incident.
More information is available in
Chapter 18 and Appendix J of the EA.
Further information regarding the
timings and process for project
approval.
DP&I are preparing the Director
General’s report which will state
proposed conditions of consent.
The project is then forwarded to the
Planning Assessment Commission
for determination. The last step is
approval from the federal Department
of Sustainability, Environment,
Water, Population and Communities
(SEWPaC).The timing is in the control
of DP&I. Based on recent experience
this is likely to take 2-3 months.
Technical presentations from
independent experts in the
fields of air quality, acoustics,
hydrogeology and health
(respiratory). Experts to be
agreed upon by AGL and the
community. Presentations will
consist of the following:
• Presentations to be filmed and
uploaded onto website
• Follow up presentations/Q
& As to be conducted at
community/Dalton Community
Consultative Committee
(DCCC) meetings.
Agreed, experts will be sought, to
make presentations to DCCC.
More community engagement in
regards to traffic management
(number of truck movements
a day, consulting with farmers
about moving stock across
haulage roads).
The Traffic Management Plan (TMP) is
a living document that will be modified
in response to community feedback.
AGL is happy to either discuss at
the DCCC or in consultation with
individuals.
Request for a community hotline
for complaints and enquiries
during construction and operation
of the plant.
The existing hotline number (1800
039 600) will be maintained during
construction and operation of station.
Filming of
presentations will be
discussed as part of
the DCC process.
For more information, please contact either:
Nigel Bean
Head of Generation Development
Direct: 02 9921 2298 Mobile: 0402 060 581
Email: nbean@agl.com.au
Neil Cooke
Manager, Power Development
Direct: 02 9921 2155
Mobile: 0402 059 855
Email: ncooke@agl.com.au
Maybe
Nicole Rizgalla
Media Adviser
Direct: 03 8633 6702
Mobile: 0400 488 836
Email: nrizgalla@agl.com.au