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 Impact study to give greenlight to $1b data centre 

Impact study to give greenlight to $1b data centre

17 Nov, 2008 06:21 AM
The Environmental Impact Statement into the controversial $1billion data centre in Tuggeranong is due out today.

The study will show there are no adverse environmental or health issues arising from operating the proposed data centre and power station on the Mugga Lane site.

But the probity of the impact study has already been called into question with the chairman of the defunct Health Impact Assessment, with health expert Professor Tony Capon calling the Environmental Impact Statement not as comprehensive as a Health Impact Assessment.

In August, Professor Capon slammed the sacking of the Health Impact Assessment independent panel of which he was chairman.

He said the assessment was not a statutory assessment but it provided a more comprehensive assessment of health impacts using the framework of the World Health Organisation's social determinants of health, and demonstrated ''world best practice''.

Even if the project is given a thumbs up by the Environmental Impact Statement, it is unlikely to go ahead in Tuggeranong.

The Greens and the Liberals went into last month's election with the promise of ''not on that site.''

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The Chief Minister should resign over this debacle. This clearly demonstrates that ACT Labor are unable to manage big projects. Business should be very wary of dealing with them.
Posted by Concerned, 17/11/2008 7:25:27 AM
The Greens and Libs are showing great integrity by sticking to their election commitments. It says a lot about the lack of values of our current Chief Minister that he doesn't understand this. He put profits ahead of public consultation on this project and as such it has turned into a debacle of his making.
Posted by Go Greens, 17/11/2008 7:30:42 AM
Professor Capon is an eminent person. He is more than qualified to assess the shortfalls of the EIS. What an embarrassment for the Chief Minister. I can feel a vote of no-confidence coming on............
Posted by Amazed, 17/11/2008 7:34:26 AM
What were the questions asked in the environmental impact? What is World's best practice? Bit like statistics in many ways - frame the questions to get the answers one wants? Once the gas fired power station is built it cannot be easily moved - better to be safe than sorry and find a site away from people. What has happened to the other group that want to build a data centre using more enviromentally friendly sources of power?
Posted by ann, 17/11/2008 8:31:46 AM
So, The EIS shows that there are no adverse effects from the data centre/gas plant. What will the Nimby's come up with now to oppose the data centre being built?
Posted by Tim, 17/11/2008 10:26:39 AM
The Mugga Lane site is well away from suburbia - a well run gas fired power station is not likely to have many emissions other than CO2.
Posted by Concerned Canberran, 17/11/2008 12:29:02 PM
I'd be interested to see Concerned Canberrans criteria for "well away" from suburbia!! There are houses 600 m away and a mental health facility 440 m away!! How much closer could it be? Furthermore: there are lots of emissions apart from CO2 - that's the problem. Those emissions are being ignored and they will blow all over Canberra - with particular impact on the old, the young and people prone to respiratory complaints. Start researching the issues and stop being blindly led by party politics.
Posted by John H, 18/11/2008 10:10:54 AM
And what a huge amount of CO2 at that! 50,000 family cars equivalent. You're kidding?
Posted by Digga, 18/11/2008 3:24:11 PM
What a joke this report is, and now we have certain pollies telling us the data centre and power station is alright. I just wonder how many of these so called experts live within the area it would be built. The people of the ACT said NO to this proposal so what part of NO does the Chief Minister not understand.
Posted by Old Dog, 18/11/2008 7:21:35 PM

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