Letter to the Editor from Maggie Jones

Sent: Thursday, October 1, 2020 1:34 PM

Seeking suggestions for campaign around lead standard in Victoria (re: ULAB proposal)

Good afternoon Elizabeth,

Leanne Norwood gave me your details and has explained that you have provided invaluable

advice to the action group regarding the Chunxing proposal for a ULAB.

You are most likely aware- on the 17/9/2020 the Latrobe Valley Council voted against the

proposal and declined the planning permit. This was a significant win for the community and

now we need to wait and see what Chunxing’s response will be.

The campaign against the ULAB has raised community awareness around the risks associated

with lead and the inadequacy of Australian Standards around lead emissions, lead in soil etc.

I was hoping to get your thoughts on how the community can best campaign for

this to change?

Right now there is interest in lead and greater awareness of its impacts- I feel that it would be

useful to start campaigning to change the lead standards in Victoria (and Australia).

As I am not familiar with environmental campaigning- I was hoping you could please give me

some pointers on:

- existing campaigns to change the lead standard

- channels that have been used to good effect

- any useful connections

- any ideas you may have on where to start and what can be implemented on the

ground

One aspect that I have become aware of since the ULAB campaign is the Power Stations

annual emissions of lead in the Latrobe Valley (see below table I created from NPI data-

annual emissions in kg).

Year Loy Yang A Loy Yang B Yallourn Engie

Hazelwood

Mine/Powe

r Station

Sum total

for each

year

2018-2019 130 65 150 62 407

2017-2018 130 73 150 77 430

2016-2017 110 110 160 160 540

2015-2016 220 83 150 200 653

2014-2015 250 110 150 280 790

2013-2014 10000 78 230 140 10448

2012-2013 5200 69 340 150 5759

2011-2012 180 140 160 150 630

2010-2011 180 80 160 140 560

2009-2010 79 79 170 140 468

2008-2009 81 81 160 140 462

2007-2008 81 81 140 140 442

2006-2007 77 77 160 140 454

2005-2006 80 80 170 140 470

I have considered it could be used as leverage to encourage the EPA to set up independent

lead air monitoring?

Or at least get lead to be on the power stations licenses?

The Victorian EPA has also given approval for the local Paper Mill to start a

waste- energy program. I believe that there may be risk of lead emissions

relating to this industry as well?

I have read about the VegeSafe program run by Macquarie University- this is a program I am

looking at. But I also feel that a broader campaign is needed as well.

There are 2 policy windows that have recently closed- but I feel that they could be still used for

leverage????:

- coal power station reviews (Latrobe Valley stations) in Victoria. Submissions were made

available to a select amount of environmental groups and the public was able to do a survey-

now closed

- Victoria’s Clean Air strategy. Submissions have also now closed.

Any advice is appreciated on how to campaign for better outcomes for lead monitoring and

standards.

I have been in shock since learning of the absolute failure of the Australian Standards to be

reflective of international best practice and want to do more.

Thank you in advance for considering this and for any feedback going forward.

Kind regards

Maggie Jones

Hazelwood South