Lithgow City Council mayor Cr Ray Thompson said he was "very, very hopeful" that a meeting with the Department of Premier and Cabinet NSW later this week would result in a better outcome for the future use of the former Wallerawang Power Station site.
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At council's meeting on Monday night, February 25, it was noted that a development application had been received to demolish almost all of the assets on the site, which is owned by EnergyAustralia, with the exception of roads and other ground-level works, and one heritage-listed chimney stack.
NSW Labor deputy leader Penny Sharpe MLC Penny Sharpe stated on a visit to Lithgow on Friday, February 22, that the State Government should commit to work with the local council to audit every building on the site before considering demolition.
Lithgow City Council leadership team Cr Thompson and Cr Wayne McAndrew, who have been vocal in their objections to having useful buildings and assets on the site removed, welcomed the suggestion.
"We know we're running out of time, and we are passionate about maintaining [some of the assets at] the site," Cr McAndrew said.
Cr McAndrew called on Member for Bathurst Paul Toole for support, He said he had been disappointed in the lack of action from the local member.
"I want to see support for the fact that we've been told on good authority, and we'll confirm that next Friday, hopefully, that it is important to leave some of the buildings currently at the Wallerawang Power Station site and not demolish them…" he said.
"So I would like to see some support from the local member in support of the position of council."
Bathurst MP Paul Toole said he was in favour of "keeping the right type of infrastructure" at the site.
"We want something that is going to benefit a future industrial and business hub for the area, that will attract investment and encourage job growth," he said.
Mr Toole said he had raised issues directly with EnergyAustralia, as the company was the owner of the site.
The closure of the power station in 2014 and Angus Place soon afterwards resulted in the loss of hundreds of jobs.
Cr Thompson said Lithgow had missed out on all the benefits of the sale of the public infrastructure, with none of the benefit.
"All the infrastructure that's being built in Western Sydney has come from the sale of Mt Piper and Wallerawang," Cr Thompson said.
"We're getting none of that back, none whatsoever, and it's very demoralising."
Councillors McAndrew and Thompson said they believed the site's future development, as an industrial hub or some other use, would be better served by the retention of some of the key buildings.
EnergyAustralia is currently in an exclusive agreement with waste company Bettergrow to potentially redevelop the site.
EnergyAustralia has stated that buildings could be retained if they were required by the new tenant.
Mr Toole said he would continue to maintain discussions with the owner of the former power plant site.
"I want to make sure it's right, that it is going to provide a long-term solution, not a short-term solution," he said.
