“Orica has a long track record of breaching its pollution licence at each of its existing facilities in NSW,” the environment group’s chief executive officer

Pepe Clarke told the Muswellbrook Chronicle this week.

“This track record of non-compliance should be taken into account by (Muswellbrook Shire) Council when considering whether to grant consent for the storage facility.

“State parliament is currently investigating whether the litany of toxic incidents at Orica’s Kooragang Island facility indicates a systemic failure to control pollution,” Mr Clarke said.

“Orica is a multi billion dollar company which can afford to invest in improved pollution compliance and risk management.

“Orica’s proposed new ammonium storage facility in the Hunter Valley should be ruled out until the company can demonstrate a stronger risk management approach and compliance with pollution laws across all its facilities,” Mr Clarke said.

CHANCE TO SEE AND HAVE YOUR SAY

Information about traffic impacts and environmental and hazard management from the proposed Orica ammonium nitrate storage and distribution facility will be available at the Denman Memorial Hall on Thursday, February 2.

“Our initial feedback from the local community and council indicated that these are issues of interest and we are committed to fully informing the community about these important aspects of our proposal,” Orica Mining Services project manager Andrew Walker said.

Community members are welcome at the drop in session anytime between 3pm and 7pm. The company is also offering tours of the former winery site they want to turn into a storage facility holding 2,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, on Saturday, February 4 at 9am, 10am and 11am.

Orica’s development application can be viewed at either Muswellbrook council offices or the Denman library.

The environmental statement is available on the council website.

Written submissions about the

proposal are due to Muswellbrook Shire Council by February 10.

So far three submissions from Denman residents have been received.

They raised concerns about traffic, environmental hazards, impacts on tourism and property values and Orica’s future plans for the site.