A move by EnergyAustralia to demolish the remaining buildings on the Wallerawang Power Plant site would significantly damage its value for future business investment, an interested party has warned.
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Real Axis Pty Ltd, which was set up exclusively for this project, has been in negotiations with EnergyAustralia to repurpose the site, using some of the existing facilities and buildings to house, initially, a freight hub.
According to the three-stage business plan, it could then expand through joint ventures with other service providers into an industrial business park, e-waste facility, energy from waste power generation and compost production facility.
Real Axis managing director David Ryan said the main attraction of the site was its infrastructure – its rail siding, grid connection and existing buildings.
“Once it is stripped out, it will return to being a cow paddock, and it will stay a cow paddock for 30-40 years to come,” he said.
Mr Ryan said the freight side of the business could be up and running in a very short period of time.
“We would have to clean up the buildings a little where they have been used to store coal, and in a short space of time the sections of rail and sleepers that needed replacement could be replaced,” he said.
The site, which would include 80 hectares, would need to be rezoned, but Mr Ryan said he believed it would have council’s support to do so.
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Lithgow City Council has publicly sought a meeting with Premier Gladys Berejiklian to lobby for the site’s assets to be maintained.
“There is a lot of infrastructure in there and, as far as I am concerned, it’s a sweetener for business development at the site,” Lithgow City mayor Cr Ray Thompson said.
“If it was returned to a greenfield site, someone would have to come in and put it all back together again.”
EnergyAustralia, in response to a query by the Lithgow Mercury, stated it did not believe it was appropriate to “publicly discuss commercial negotiations we may or may not have had” in regards to the future of the site.
A spokesperson for the company said “we’ve spent the past two years working with parties which have expressed interest in the site”.
“That’s more than enough time to put forward a proposal.
“However, none were sufficiently serious or committed to move ahead, and for others, their timeline is unrealistic.
“This can’t go on indefinitely. At some point we have to get on with rehabilitating the old Wallerawang power station so the community can have certainty.
“Some parties have expressed interest in the site as a greenfields development. We will continue to engage with interested parties.”
Deputy mayor Cr Wayne Thompson said the meeting with the Premier would have to come before the Cabinet is brought to Lithgow on November 29.
“That's too far out, we need to move more quickly, and we want a response well before then,” he said.
“We’ve been told the assets enhance the attractiveness of the site for industrial use.”
Bathurst MP Paul Toole said the site was owned by EnergyAustralia and was a matter for them.
“It is a well located site with good transport options and I believe there are great opportunities for repurposing and redevelopment.
“It could be an ideal location for a business or industrial park.”
Shooters Fishers and Farmers Bathurst candidate Brendan May has urged the NSW Government to intervene.
“This is a tragedy for Lithgow. The power station will be demolished at taxpayer expense, and 200 potential new jobs will be lost,” he said.
Mr May said Energy Australia’s statement to the Lithgow Mercury on Thursday, that “no proposals received … are ready to proceed” was incorrect.
“I’ve been informed that one developer group is 100 per cent ready to roll,” he said.
- EnergyAustralia has confirmed staff will be available to discuss the future of Wallerawang and Mt Piper power stations. The information expo, which will be open to the community, will be held on Thursday, November 22 from 11am to 7pm at the supper room, George Coates Avenue in Lithgow.