Tamar Valley
Prior to the acquisition of Alinta by a consortium including Babcock & Brown Power (BBP) (which was completed in August 2007) Alinta proposed to construct and operate a power station in the Tamar Valley, with a 210MW combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) and additional peaking capacity in the order of 180MW of open cycle gas turbines (OCGT). On 25 September 2007, after going through a substantial approvals and community consultation process, the George Town Council granted approvals for the construction and operation of the Power Station.
Alinta acquired the existing power station site at Bell Bay in March 2007 and subsequently sought approval to develop a 210MW CCGT power plant on the site. It also proposed to install up to 60MW of additional OCGT power plant, to supplement the existing 105MW of installed OCGT at the Bell Bay site. Hydro Tasmania will cease operation of the 2 x 120 MW thermal units in March 2009. Following this, the units will be decommissioned and dismantled.
Gas will be supplied to the power station via the Tasmanian Gas Pipeline, which already delivers Natural Gas to the site. Electrical power generated by the Tamar Valley Power Station will be exported to the George Town Transend Substation, approximately two kms to the north, then via the Transend-owned 220kV Grid.
Alinta selected this combination of additional gas turbines and generating capacity based upon the latest technology and the low environmental impact. This combination satisfies the requirements of the Tamar Valley Power Station’s customer, Aurora Energy, for the supply of energy and the contractual conditions. The project has low emissions of Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and very low emissions of both particulate matter and Oxides of Sulphur (SOx).
As part of the arrangement of Alinta acquiring the site, Hydro Tasmania will cease operation of the two 120MW thermal units. This will result in a substantial net gain in environmental emissions into the Tamar Region, particularly air emissions and increased temperature into the Tamar River from the cooling water system associated with the thermal units.
Facts and Figures
- The Tamar Valley Power Station will comprise one 210MW combined cycle gas turbine, three 35MW open cycle gas turbines and one 60MW open cycle gas turbine.
- Combined cycle generation is one of the most efficient, clean and reliable ways of making electricity.
- With the retirement and decommissioning of the existing thermal units, there will be a significant net reduction of nitrogen oxide and Co2 emissions into the Tamar Valley air shed.
- The introduction of further gas generation into Tasmania will reduce the pressure of the State water reserves and reduce the reliance on Basslink to bring electricity from mainland - Australia, which is predominantly generated from coal fired power stations which are the major CO2 emitters.
- An estimated 300 people will be employed during the construction stages and it will secure the jobs of 20 to 25 personnel during operation
- Total investment in the project will be in the order of $330 million
More Information:
Notice of Intent (Project description submitted to the Tasmanian Department of Tourism Arts and Environment)
Approvals Process
Under the Tasmanian Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 the proposal is classified as a ‘Level 2 activity’ and is subject to a formal environmental impact assessment process. Alinta has developed a Development Plan and Environmental Management Plan (DP&EMP) for assessment of the project. To initiate the Level 2 approval process, Alinta prepared and submitted in April 2007 a Notice of Intent, Tamar Valley Power Station Notice of Intent for Level 2 Activity (See above), to the Board of Environmental Management and Pollution Control, Department of Tourism, Arts and Environment (DTAE).
In May 2007 in response to this submission, DTAE prepared and provided to Alinta the Development Proposal and Environmental Management Plan Project Specific Guidelines for Alinta Energy Pty Ltd, Bell Bay Power Station (Project Specific Guidelines).
The Project Specific Guidelines provide greater clarity and, where required, expand on the assessment requirements contained in the General Guidelines for the preparation of a Development Proposal and Environmental Management Plan for Level 2 Activities (General Guidelines).
The DPEMP was prepared to accord with the requirements of the General and Project Specific Guidelines and as required a table cross referencing the requirements with the relevant sections of this DPEMP is included in Part C Appendix A of the DPEMP.
Following submission of the DPEMP to the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Board (the Board), the document was displayed for a period of 28 days to enable public and agency consideration of the effect the proposal may have on the environment. At the conclusion of this comment period no representations were received from the public or other agencies regarding the project. As a result, no Supplementary report addressing issues raised during the public consultation process was required.
The DPEMP is structured to reflect the headings of the General Guidelines and has been divided into separate documents in order to reduce the overall size of any one document in accordance with the requirements of DTAE for public availability on the web. The fours parts to the DPEMP are as follows;
Executive Summary – provides an overview of the proposal and its environmental implications;
Part A – provides proposal and proponent background, approvals required, detailed project description and details of the existing environment. It consists of the following Chapters:
- Chapter 1. Introduction;
- Chapter 2. Project Description; and
- Chapter 3. The Existing Environment.
Part B – describes and analyses the potential effects of the proposal and their management, monitoring and review processes during the construction and operation phases. It consists of the following chapters:
- Chapter 4. Potential Effects and Their Management;
- Chapter 5. Monitoring and Review;
- Chapter 6. Decommissioning and Rehabilitation;
- Chapter 7. Commitments;
- Chapter 8. Conclusion; and
- Chapter 9. References.
Part C Appendices – contains supporting technical information for Part A and B of the DPEMP, namely Project Specific Guidelines, project site plans and specialist assessments.
The DPEMP was advertised on Saturday 23 June which formally commenced the 28 day advertising period during which representations or submissions may be made to the George Town Council in relation to the Project. To provide guidance in preparing submissions a document containing guidelines to assist was included in this website.
Should there be any problems in accessing the files below please call Simon Himson on 0409 575 931 and a CD containing the DP&EMP will be provided free of charge or alternative arrangements can be made to provide access to the required information.
Project Specific Guidelines
Development Proposal and Environmental Management Plan
Public Consultation
During late May, early June 2007 Alinta conducted a series of community information sessions. These sessions presented details of the proposed TVPS including:
- An outline of the project
- Environment outcomes, positive and negative
- Planning and Approvals process undertaken including timings and opportunity for public participation
- Project schedule, and
- Overall benefits of the project
- Particular emphasis was placed on addressing those issues identified during the extensive NOI consultation process
These presentations were initially made to the local councils. Following the Council presentations, public forums were conducted in the immediate Council areas of George Town and West Tamar. The West Tamar included specific forums in Beauty Point, Beaconsfield and Rowella. The following community consultation sessions were held.
- York Cove Centre, Sorell St, George Town, Monday 28 May, 7.00pm
- Beauty Point Bowls Club, 7 Mainwaring St, Beauty Point, Tuesday 29 May. 7.00pm
- Rowella Community Hall, Rowella, Wednesday 30 May, 7.00pm
- Beaconsfield Community Centre, Thursday 31 May, 7.00pm
These forums were advertised through letter drops, local council publications and newspaper advertisements. Advertisements were placed in the Tamar Times, the local Tamar Valley regional newspaper and three placements in “The Examiner” in the two weeks preceding the scheduled sessions.
A letter box drop inviting local residents to the above sessions was made through Australia Post, two to three weeks prior to the meetings. Approximately 4, 900 local residences were delivered the invitation. (Refer to invitation below). The locations and times of the forums were also detailed in a general newspaper article in “The Examiner” pages 1-5 on the 28th of May, the commencement date of the consultation sessions.
Invitation to Community Consultation Sessions
Summary of Community Consultation Sessions
In keeping with the above communications strategy, Alinta outlined the project, listened to and recorded issues raised.
Key Promotional Materials that were used include:
- PowerPoint Presentation;
- Colour Flyer outlining project and providing appropriate points of contact within Alinta;
- Portable, collapsible panel presentation with mock up site visuals from various angles; and
- Visual displays to be lodged at the local council offices for public display (i.e. 2 displays).
A summary of the community consultation sessions has been compiled.
Each session was chaired by a representative from the local council to ensure that the sessions had an independence from the project proponent. The chair ensured that issues raised by the attendees were adequately addressed or could be followed up at a later date. The sessions commenced at 7.00pm with an introduction from the local council representative and a PowerPoint presentation from Alinta which covered issues such as: (A copy of the presentation is available below).
- Outline of Alinta
- Outline of the Project
- Economic benefits
- Environmental benefits
- Project timetable
- Consultation Process
Questions were taken for approximately 30 minutes following the presentation. Refreshments were offered following the sessions to allow for those who may not be comfortable with an open forum to raise their concerns with the Alinta representatives in attendance.
In summary, over the four sessions, excluding the three Alinta reprehensive, 71 people attended (approx 20 per session). The mix included contractors looking for means to gain work during the construction process, ex-employees of the Bell Bay Power Station, local residents supportive of the project and local residents having environmental concerns they were seeking to have addressed.
All questions and concerns raised were noted and spoken to by Alinta. (Details of all questions raised are available upon request). Over half of the questions raised were in relation to general power station operation (i.e. operating hours, type of machinery, performance characteristics, source of the gas, Australia’s gas reserves, and number of female staff employed etc), the States Energy Policy and the structure of the deal between Alinta, Hydro Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government. The remainder of the queries related to environmental issues, in order of number of queries raised, air emissions, water emissions and noise. Few queries or concerns were raised in relation to visual impact. This was probably due to the extensive montages and visual materials made available during and at the forums.
No issues were raised that Alinta could not adequately answer and it is the view of both the Alinta representatives and the independent chair that all in the audience had their concerns addressed. All queries were adequately addressed and were often covered in greater detail in the DP&EMP. Many of the concerns related to the existing thermal unit operation.
All attendees were offered business cards of the Alinta Approvals Manager and flyers regarding the project which provided contact details for further follow-up. All attendees were informed as to their requirements to ensure that they maintained their rights through the approvals and planning process.
Overall, the forums were very supportive of the project and the environmental benefits that could be achieved through the retiring of the old technology and the introduction of the new gas-fired units. Indeed, the overwhelming view was that the implications of the project not going ahead would be worse than the project occurring.
Community Consultation Sessions 28-31 May
Approvals
Approvals for the Construction and Operation of the Tamar Valley Power Station were granted by the George Town Council at its meeting on the 25th of September 2007. The Planning Permit as issued DA 2007/072 incorporated the Environmental Conditions as developed by the DTAE as part of Permit Part B Permit Conditions - Environmental No. 7467.
Construction Timetable
- Commencement of relocation of road and Services – Sept 2007
- Commencement of Major Earth works – Oct 2007
- Commencement of Civil Construction – Nov 2007
- Commissioning of 60MW OCGT – Dec 2008
- Commissioning of CCGT – Mar 2009
For employment and supply opportunities, or should you have any concerns or queries, please call:
Simon Himson
Approvals Manager
Alinta Energy
Level 3, 85 Macquarie St
Hobart TAS 7000
Ph (03) 6270 2230
Mob 0409 575 931
Email: simon.himson@alinta.net.au
For direct employment or subcontract works opportunities, contact:
Employment:
Emma Hassett
Ph: (02) 8925 8502
Email: emma.hassett@unitedgroupltd.com
Subcontract works:
Wayne Carey
Ph: 0407 404 222
Email: wayne.carey@unitedgroupltd.com
Local Views of the site with proposed plant layouts superimposed