The Environment Centre NT is calling on the Northern Territory and Federal Governments to face up to Territorians about the truth of what is being proposed at the Middle Arm Industrial Precinct, as a major report is released today demonstrating catastrophic impacts on the health of Darwin and Palmerston residents if the precinct goes ahead as planned.
Co-Director of the Environment Centre NT Kirsty Howey says,
“Dr Petroni’s report paints a terrifying picture of what is in store for residents of Darwin and Palmerston if the Middle Arm petrochemicals precinct goes ahead. These impacts include an increase of over 500% in air pollution caused by fine particulate emissions, a fourfold increase in cancer risk, and 15 additional premature deaths per year. The report makes startlingly clear that the Middle Arm petrochemicals precinct could kill people in Darwin and Palmerston.
“Not only that, it will increase the Northern Territory’s greenhouse gas emissions by 75%, and that’s not even counting the carbon bomb of the Beetaloo Basin that will provide feedstock for Middle Arm. You could scarcely design a more disastrous project for our health and climate.”
“The Federal Government’s commitment of $1.5 billion in funding for the Middle Arm Industrial Precinct is simply shovelling huge amounts of taxpayer funds to the climate-wrecking fossil fuel industry. The Albanese Government can’t have it both ways: you can’t take action on climate and fund climate-destroying projects like Middle Arm.”
Report author Dr Michael Petroni says,
“My analysis shows that air pollution and industrial accident risk from the proposed Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct may pose significant health threats to residents of the Greater Darwin Region.”
“The Middle Arm Precinct may increase industrial fine particulate emissions by 513% in the region, resulting in $75 million of additional health impacts, equivalent to 15 additional premature deaths, per year. It may also increase the industrial cancer hazard in the region four-fold due to releases of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, polycyclic aromatic compounds and additional air toxins.”
“It is well known that petrochemicals developments pose significant risks to the health and wellbeing of proximate communities, to the climate, and to the local environment. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from these facilities can shorten the lives of people breathing it by causing chronic inflammation and exacerbating heart disease.”
“Residents of Darwin and Palmerston have a right to know about these potential risks and not be misled by terms such as ‘sustainable development’, when plans for the precinct include large, fossil fuel powered industrial facilities.”
