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The recent visit to the Central Coast by the UN Special Rapporteur for Toxins and Human Rights has created community momentum to campaign for the retirement of remaining coal-fired power stations as quickly as possible.
By Jacquelene Pearson
Suzie Brown is one of an burgeoning number of Central Coast residents determined to put a stop to the long-running environmental and public health impacts of coal-fired power stations.
Suzie is a long-term climate campaigner with some significant achievements under her belt. She was the founder and National Director, of Australian Parents for Climate Action, leading over 15,000 members and 26 local groups around Australia.
Suzie has nearly 20 years’ experience working on climate and sustainability policy, community organising, organisational and individual behaviour change for sustainability. She created the Australian Conservation Foundation’s award-winning GreenHome program in 2003, managing a team in multiple states and a multi-million-dollar budget to deliver community education and outreach on sustainable living.
Prior to that Suzie led the Zero Waste campaign at Environment Victoria and campaigned for an end to free plastic bags and wasteful packaging.
Now living on the Central Coast, Suzie has her sights set on using that experience and skill set to push the NSW Government to retire the coal power stations on time and to clean up the coal ash dams.
She has started an e-petition on the NSW Government’s Legislative Council (upper house) page. You can see the text of the petition here (and sign it!):
https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/lc/pages/epetition-details.aspx?q=nfkMZc8FOD6ddpkEoqlxfQ
The petition aims to target the Treasurer or the Environment Minister who are both in the Upper House (even though it cannot officially be addressed to any particular politician).
Greens MLC and Central Coast resident, Abigail Boyd, has agreed to present the petition to the Legislative Council.
We have until 12th October to get 500 signatures,” says Suzie Brown. “Then it has to be responded to by the Minister in parliament (only if we achieve 500 signatures).
Anyone who lives in NSW can sign it so be sure to send the link to family and friends across the state.
Here’s the wording of the petition:
End coal pollution on the Central Coast to protect community and environmental health
“To the President and Members of the Legislative Council, the petitioners of New South Wales, especially the residents of the Central Coast and Lake Macquarie state that premature deaths, terminal illnesses, asthma, and chronic health problems have been experienced by residents of the Central Coast and Lake Macquarie as a result of decades of air and water pollution from local coal power stations and their associated coal ash dams. The petitioners request that the House implements the 16 recommendations from the Coal Ash Inquiry of the Public Works Committee report dated 4 March 2021, and not grant any exemption licences or extensions to the life of coal power stations in New South Wales, especially Vales Point and Eraring power stations.”
