Council seeks infrastructure commitment from steel plant
Gladstone Regional Council will seek a significant contribution to community infrastructure after analysing the Gladstone Steel Plant Project (GSPP) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) today.
At its general meeting, Council noted that the GSPP EIS made only minor commitments to community infrastructure, claiming that any stress on infrastructure or other adverse effects would be offset by the project increasing employment opportunities and stimulating economic growth.
Gladstone Mayor Gail Sellers said Council’s experience, and that of the Gladstone Region community, would suggest otherwise.
“The commitment given to community infrastructure within the Gladstone Region by proponents of previous major projects has been seriously inadequate to date and Council does not wish for this to occur again with the Gladstone Steel Plant Project,” Cr Sellers said.
“With that in mind, Council’s submission seeks $44m from GSPP, one per cent of the project’s estimated $4.4 billion capital cost, towards community infrastructure works nominated by Council. Such works would generally be in the social, economic and environmental areas of community infrastructure.”
This project is expected to employ a construction workforce of 2000, 1200 of whom are expected to be fly-in, fly-out workers utilising accommodation that has yet to be clearly defined, and have 1800 workers during its operational phase.
“Given these numbers, it is unreasonable to assert that this project will not further test the region’s community infrastructure as well as undermine the viability of the region for low fixed income households.”
Proponents, Boulder Steel Limited, are proposing to develop an integrated steel plant capable of producing five million tonnes of steel per annum, in semi-finished billet and slab forms, for export to Asia.
The proposed development comprises the steel plant, ancillary infrastructure to support its construction, and additional works including a private haul road, port and rail facilities and utilities.
The estimated capital cost of the proposed development is $4.4 billion with the steel plant, private haul road and rail loop to be located within the Gladstone State Development Area at Aldoga and the port facilities at the approved port development of Fishermans Landing.
Council’s submission also addresses technical aspects of the project’s applications and its environmental impact.
Submissions on the EIS are due for lodgement with the Office of the Coordinator-General by next Monday (Feb 25).
