COLLIE RIVER VALLEY EDITION No. 108
BULLETIN Published by LOCALS for LOCALS Thursday, November 10, 2022
PIPE LEAK
Red Cross shop volunteer Pam Head was concerned about the amount of water gushing down Steere Street on Monday morning, after a pipe leak caused a hole to open up in the road’s surface. Story page 6
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Hydro eyes Griffin site THE backers of a potential $650 million pumped hydro project are eyeing off the site of embattled miner Griffin Coal. Pump Hydro Collie (PHC) has been working with Griffin Coal, which went into receivership in September, to investigate its energy storage project at the Muja coal pit. The proposed site includes a significant portion of currently unfunded rehabilitation liabilities associated with the mine. Director Mick Murray said this week the company was not seeking to purchase Griffin Coal. He said the company recognises the urgent need to restructure Griffin Coal and to stabilise energy supplies as the state “transitions to a new clean energy future”. Continued page 7.
Ammonia proposal A PROPOSAL put to Collie Shire Council at its Tuesday night meeting could provide 1000 construction jobs, 100 plant jobs and 200 coal miner jobs, according to the proponents. The zero emissions plant would keep local coal mines operating and employ Collie’s highly-skilled workforce, council was told. A conglomerate of Neocology, Continuum Energy and Collabs put forward a
proposal for a $750 million Collie Ammonia Development Company to be located at the decommissioned Collie Power Station site. They were seeking council support with a support letter. The proposed plant would have an estimated annual turnover of $400 million. It will produce ammonia, urea, methanol, industrial CO2, sulphur and building products, all with zero carbon emissions. Outlining the project, Ramon
Skase of Continuum Energy said all the proponents were seeking at this stage was a letter of support, and advocacy of the project. Council voted to provide this support, but not without questioning Mr Skase and Collabs Scientific Services director Kathy Miller about elements of their plans. Cr John Kearney said he was concerned about the coal companies which would have to be involved, and would
like to know more about this aspect. Cr Michelle Smith asked about dangers associated with the ammonia production, saying she had done research, and found there were problems with ammonia plants in South Australia and Victoria. “There’s always safety concerns,” Mrs Miller said, adding that the proponents are experienced people and all precautions would be taken. Continued page 5.