November 2020 Eraring Community Newsletter

Eraring Power Station (EPS) is owned and operated by . The station comprises four 720 MW fired units, and one 42MW diesel fuelled gas turbine. Eraring is Australia’s largest power station with a generating capacity of 2922 MW, and accounts for approximately 25 per cent of ’ power requirements.

A message from the Group Manager, EPS Environment Update COVID-19 continues to have an impact on our communities and employees, and the uncertainty of the pandemic can We continue to closely monitor our environment to ensure create challenges which often may not have been foreseen. we can promptly act on issues. An example of this took place However, Origin’s focus remains on protecting the health in July, when during routine inspections of the Myuna Bay and safety of our people, our contractors and those in the foreshore carried out by Origin personnel, a small number communities in which we operate. of taprogge balls were found. Taprogge balls are small orange or blue rubber balls used to scour cooling water We are doing our best to ensure continuity of electricity tubes of marine growth, which is important for power station supply and many of our workforce are still working from efficiency. Under normal operations, the balls should remain home where it is advisable and considered feasible. On site in a recirculating system, so we immediately commenced at EPS, we continue to monitor the situation to ensure we are an investigation and self-reported the incident to the EPA as managing and mitigating risks so we can reduce exposure to soon as the balls were found. Our investigation concluded the virus. This means we still have restrictions on visitors and that the screening system which normally prevents the community interactions at site and this will continue for the taprogge balls from escaping had been damaged. The issue immediate future. was immediately rectified and we reviewed our maintenance This has also meant Origin has postponed the Unit 4 routines and inspections as a result of the incident. While maintenance outage which was planned for August to October Origin carries out regular inspections of the foreshore, we 2020. This outage is now scheduled to commence in August appreciate community feedback should you identify an issue. 2021. Notwithstanding this, the lead up to summer is always Dust Management: Origin maintains a comprehensive dust a busy period with an extensive program of inspections and management strategy to manage dust from the Eraring ash works on our units, major auxiliaries and property in order dam. This strategy uses several methods such as deploying to maximise reliability of electricity supply over the crucial water cannons, helicopters releasing water and progressively summer period. capping sections of the ash dam to supress the dust.

Throughout this time, we continue to have measures in place Recently we have added further measures to our to ensure that we monitor our environmental performance strategy including tripling our water storage capacity, as usual and we continue to support the community through increasing irrigation capacity by 35ha, developing a investment opportunities, and we’re excited to announce more specific weather and dust forecast system that provides community partnerships. You can read more about these in the our teams daily updates on the dust probability, active community section. use of four strategically located dust monitoring stations and development of a unique spray misting system to Tony Phillips – Group Manager, Eraring Power Station complement traditional water cannons for dust suppression. The misting system has the advantage of lower water usage Myuna Bay Sport & Recreation Centre Relocation than cannons and the mist can travel long distances with the new system ensuring a coordinated proactive, real time and Origin made a commitment to the NSW Office of Sport (OoS) to reactive 7 day a week dust management between Origin’s support the relocation of the Myuna Bay Sport and Recreation ash dam operations team and our ash dam contractor. Centre following its permanent closure in 2019. Origin has been working closely with the OoS to locate a suitable site and on Robust dust management at the ash dam is critical to 21 July 2020, the Acting NSW Minister for Sport Dr Geoff Lee our ongoing operations and ensuring our impacts are announced the preferred location for the centre. well managed and minimised. Whilst further testing of the system is required and ongoing success will require The site has access to Lake Eraring, is approximately one- continued diligent management, we’re pleased to advise kilometre south-east of the former Myuna Bay Sport and the first real test of the improved dust management Recreation Centre and is slightly larger than the original location. system has been successful. The OoS will now prepare a Development Application and we will continue to keep you updated through this newsletter. Community Investment Site Projects and Activities Origin is committed to supporting the communities around where we operate. Here are some of the local community As outlined in our previous newsletter, there are several initiatives we’re currently supporting. projects and activities currently being undertaken at EPS.

Toronto High School STEM Program: In 2018, Origin entered Southern Embankment Stability Project: The proposed a partnership with Toronto High School to support the ash dam southern embankment stability project is school’s science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) in detailed design phase with ground improvement program. Our support enables the school to take part in STEM works expected to commence in early 2021. Origin has initiatives including the Hunter Valley Electric Bike Festival. undertaken an environmental assessment of the project Importantly, we’ve also offered our time and expertise, both in to ensure we remain compliant with the requirements the classroom with students in iSTEM & Electronics subjects of our Environment Protection Licence, as well as and supporting the school’s electric bike programs. Over the minimising impacts on the local community from the last two years over 200 students have been involved from four construction works. iSTEM classes and three Electronics classes – with more than Ash Dam Expansion Project: In late 2019, the 50 hours volunteered by Eraring’s Senior Electrical Engineer. Independent Planning Commission (IPC) approved “The partnership with Origin has assisted in significantly the Ash Dam Expansion Project. Project details are improving the numbers of students, particularly girls available on the Department of Planning, Industry and transitioning into STEM electives. The success of our electric Environment website. The detailed design phase of bike programs has inspired many young girls and boys to give the project is ongoing and Origin, in consultation with STEM subjects a go. This simply would not be possible without the Department and other stakeholders, is continuing the support we received from Origin.” Peter Chapman, Toronto to work to achieve the conditions of approval. The High School. Community Consultative Committee (CCC) which was established as a condition of approval has now Marine Rescue NSW: Origin is pleased to announce we have met three times with great community representative donated $20,000 to the Marine Rescue NSW (MRNSW) participation. Minutes of the meetings can be found on to assist with the completion of their new Lake Macquarie our website. headquarters. We recognise the important service MRNSW provides to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the community Ash Recycling: Recently we entered into a partnership whilst out on the water, and we’re grateful to the 150 volunteers with ground remediation and fly ash supplier, BFG of the Lake Macquarie branch for their service. Daracon. The partnership will see a large classifier installed at Eraring by the end of 2020 (subject to Wangi RSL Amateur Sailing Club (WASC): The sailing club approval and based on the schedule) which will actively promote and teach the importance of water safety reprocess fly ash into a grade suitable for concrete and and Origin is pleased to provide support to enable the club to ground remediation applications. This initiative is in purchase a new rescue boat. addition to the existing ash we sell.

“WASC very much appreciates the $5,000 sponsorship provided by Eraring Power Station to contribute to a new We’d love to hear from you rescue boat. WASC is a small community sailing club and our If there is an initiative or activity in the community that major objectives are to promote the enjoyment of sailing in our we may be able to support please contact Tania Carlos community and to offer the opportunity for everyone to access to discuss the opportunity. this sport. This year we have over 40 kids in our junior program with includes Learn to Sail and Junior Racing. The success of the program can only happen with the efforts of our volunteers and parents and the generous support of our sponsors to keep our young sailors safe.” WASC Board. Contact us To discuss anything relating to EPS Operations please contact our Senior Community Relations Business Partner:

[email protected] 0400 035 434

If something on or near EPS requires urgent attention, contact site security.

02 4973 0700

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