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EnergyAustralia’s former Wallerawang power station in Lithgow, New South Wales, is set to undergo a transformation with new owners, Greenspot Wallerawang Pty Ltd, planning to turn the site into an industrial park. Greenspot is a joint venture between the owners of leading NSW businesses, Borg and Bettergrow.
Liz Westcott, EnergyAustralia Executive – Energy said: “Since the Wallerawang plant closed in 2014 our team has been carefully rehabilitating the site in preparation for a new owner. We are pleased to announce that Greenspot has purchased the site and will continue a proud 60-year history within the community.
“We look forward to Greenspot realising their vision for an industrial park, and with it, the creation of jobs, new business opportunities and a welcome boost to the local economy,” Ms Westcott said.
Head of Mt Piper Greg McIntyre said: “Many locals had – and still have – a strong connection to the plant with their relatives or friends having worked there at some point. We hope they are pleased with today’s news that sets up the site for future generations.
“We thank members of the Lithgow community for their patience throughout the repurposing program. In addition, we thank Lithgow City Council and The Hon. Paul Toole for their continued support.”
Bettergrow managing director Neil Schembri said that resilience, environmental biodiversity and a rich cultural heritage are the perfect ingredients for new enterprise in regional areas. “Wallerawang and Lithgow has all of that in spades,” he said.
“Our aim is to deliver an industrial park that will stimulate the local economy, encourage new industry and drive investment in the Lithgow region. I would like to thank the Wallerawang and Lithgow community for their support of this project, and we look forward to continue working closely with them in this next phase of development.”
Mr Schembri said Greenspot first intends to undertake a significant program of decommissioning, demolition and rehabilitation works, which is expected to commence in the first half of next year. This program will take approximately two-and-a-half years and require around 60 workers during peak activity.
Beyond that, Greenspot aims to leverage the collective experience of Borg and Bettergrow to generate activity on site, and to work with key public and private sector stakeholders to attract and accommodate a variety of businesses that will co-exist on the site.
Greenspot will also work collaboratively with state government owned Generator Property Management Pty Ltd, which has taken over ownership and the responsibility to rehabilitate the power station’s ash dams, located north of the site.
The Wallerawang site including buffer lands covers around 450 hectares and offers a rail siding and high-voltage electricity connection. EnergyAustralia closed the plant in 2014 to focus fuel and resources to the newer and more efficient Mt Piper station.