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Western Australia Biomass Pty Ltd engaged Aurecon to facilitate the environmental approval process. The process has been to:
A comprehensive range of surveys and technical studies were undertaken in preparation for the Public Environmental Review. The PER was opened for public review for 4 weeks from 28 January 2008 to 26 February 2008. The PER documents are available for download below. Subsequently, Aurecon has responded to submissions made during the public review period and developed a Response to Submissions document. This response required some additional investigation and analysis of key environmental factors. The additional studies that have been undertaken are provided as appendices to the Response to Submission document, all of which are available for download: Response to Submissions Appendices:
Background information This information is designed to give you an understanding of the Biomass Power Generation Plant proposed by Western Australia Biomass Pty Ltd in the Manjimup area. It is our opportunity to explain to you the environmental considerations of the project and our plans to address these. Biopower is the process of using biomass, in this case plantation waste, to generate electricity. Biomass has been used for lighting, cooking and heating ever since humans first discovered fire. Today, modern biomass generating plants can produce electricity in a manner similar to generating electricity using fossil fuels. In essence, the fossil fuels are simply replaced with plant matter as a fuel source, creating a cleaner, renewable energy alternative. The important benefit with biopower is that it relies on a renewable resource. Biomass offers great potential to replace existing fossil fuel power plants. Transportation and processing costs are key to the price, so biomass power plants must be sited near an ongoing, reliable biomass source. Given the prevalence of the commercial plantation product in the South West region, a biomass power plant is proposed for this location. Biomass power systems can be referred to as carbon dioxide/greenhouse neutral, given that the plant material absorbs as much carbon dioxide during its life as is released when burned to produce electricity. The proposed biomass power plant will qualify for Federal Government renewable energy certification, which is based on a scientific method of evaluation for sustainable energy production. Taking into account that the supply of biomass power into the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) will offset the need for a similar amount of generation from alternative fuel sources that are likely to have a greater greenhouse effect, there are potential emissions savings in the order of 6.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent energy over the expected 25-year operation of the plant. As most plantation waste is currently burned in the open, the use of biomass for power generation prevents the otherwise uncontrolled release of particulates into the environment. Where the waste is not burned, it would usually decompose in the open to produce carbon dioxide or methane, while also presenting a significant fire hazard in plantation areas. Therefore the use of the plantation waste for power generation is an efficient waste-disposal process that generates sustainable electricity, producing net environmental benefits. WA Biomass Pty Ltd is a joint venture company comprising Babcock and Brown and National Power. Representatives of WA Biomass will be in the Manjimup area consulting with local stakeholders and the community while the site investigation and approvals processes are undertaken. Aurecon was engaged by Western Australia Biomass Pty Ltd to undertake a detailed environmental impact assessment and to seek planning approval for the proposal from the Shire of Manjimup. The assessment addresses the potential impacts of the biomass power generation plant and recommends mitigation and management measures so that those impacts do not adversely affect the environment or health, welfare and amenity of people and nearby land uses by meeting statutory requirements and acceptable standards. Contact Aurecon Rebecca Hollett, Senior Planner Phone: 08 9223 1500 Email: hollettr@ap.aurecongroup.com The plant buildings will occupy a cleared area of land located adjacent to the existing WAPRES Diamond Mill timber operations on Eastbourne Road, off the South West Highway approximately 8 km to the south of Manjimup. The power station will be a conventional steam cycle plant generating electrical power which will be supplied to the South West Interconnected System (SWIS). The power plant will comprise the following main facilities:
Economic impacts The proposal involves capital investment of $110 million to build the power station, and creation of approximately 350 short-term and100 long-term jobs, both directly and indirectly, in the region with an estimated additional $4-5 million per year in household income. Transport The co-location of the proposed plant with the existing timber mill offers efficiencies in fuel transportation by using bark waste from the mill that is currently burnt in the open, and by backloading trucks that take woodchips to the Bunbury Port with plantation waste. This reduces the estimated additional number of trucks accessing the site. Water The key objective of the proposal is to provide a "zero discharge" recycled water system with minimal impact on existing water resources in the area, disposal of waste water on site, and treatment of drainage run-off using water sensitive urban design. Noise Noise attenuation will be implemented on all contributing components of the plant in order to meet the requirements of the EPA's noise regulations. Air quality Sophisticated technologies are available for removing any unburned particles from the air emissions and pollution control will be incorporated into the plant design to meet environment and health standards. Detailed environmental management and monitoring plans have been developed to achieve ongoing compliance with relevant local, state and national environmental criteria.
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