Newcastle Community Consultative Committee on the Environment

Committee Members

The committee represents the interests of community, industry and the environment.  

Chair

John Tate
Mr Tate is the proprietor of a local automotive industry company and has extensive experience in small business. John served as a Councillor for the City of Newcastle from 1980 and was popularly elected as Lord Mayor of Newcastle in 1999, to his retirement in 2012. John served as Chair of the Hunter Economic Development Corporation, and as the Deputy Chair of Regional Development Australia - Hunter. He has been a Director of the Regional Land Management Corporation, the Newcastle Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, Honeysuckle Development Corporation and Hunter Development Corporation.

Community representatives 

Keith Craig
Keith Craig has a degree and masters in Chemical Engineering and works in the water industry. He is the author of over 50 technical and conference papers on water treatment. He has been a member of the Stockton Community Action Group since its formation and has been an activist for the local community on many issues. He has also been a member of various community reference groups including the recently formed Community Liaison Committee for Stockton Beach Erosion and industry groups. He was also an original community member of the NCCCE when it was first formed 6 years ago.

Chris Tola
Chris Tola has extensive experience working in and with community and stakeholder groups. Mr Tola is the former National Chair for Surfrider Foundation Australia along with being a Founding Board Member of National Surfing Reserves, Take 3, and the Australian Coastal Society. He was also a finalist in the Hunter Volunteer of the year Awards. 

Ministers Community representative
Rick Banyard
Mr Banyard has a background in agriculture, mechanics and as a teacher of technical education. Rick is a long-term resident of Newcastle and the Hunter and has a long term association with action on environmental issues including air quality and water quality management. Rick is an active member of a wide variety of Newcastle organisations and is recognised for his research skills.

Environment representative 
Thomas Levick 
A proud Yuwaalaraay man living on Awabakal country, Thomas is a Science graduate and Project Assistant at the University of Newcastle, where he is currently conducting research on alternative economies. Thomas has been an active member of a variety of community and activist groups, including in 2017 acting as Regional Coordinator for renewable energy think-tank Beyond Zero Emissions, and volunteer coordinator for the 2017 Students Of Sustainability conference held in Newcastle. Thomas is currently a volunteer Coordinator with the Wilderness Society, and Faculty Representative for Science with the Newcastle University Students' Association, as well as a member of the inaugural community of Ma & Morley Scholars.

Industry representatives 

Trudie Larnach
Ms Larnach is the Manager of Environment & Community Relations with Port Waratah Coal Services. She manages a dedicated team focused on all aspects of their social licence to operate and is a part of Port Waratah’s executive leadership team. Before joining Port Waratah Trudie held environmental management and approval roles with one of the large multinational mining companies represented in the Hunter Valley coal industry. In addition to this she has tertiary qualifications in science and legal disciplines.

Keith Wilks
Keith Wilks is Port of Newcastle’s Executive Manager Operations and Infrastructure. Keith has oversight for port operations including operational environmental compliance, building and maintaining port infrastructure, management of wharf services and cargo operations, vessel scheduling, dredging and survey, port security, emergency management and regulatory compliance for Biosecurity (DAWR) and Australian Boarder Force.Keith has 27-years’ experience in the marine and port industry, including 10 years serving on Australian cargo vessels in multiple trades. 

Sheree Woodroffe
Ms Woodroffe is the Environment and Community Manager at Orica. Sherree has 20 years' experience in environmental and safety management at industrial operations.

Newcastle City Council representative 
Mark Manning
Mr Manning works as Senior Strategist – Environment for Newcastle City Council. He is the Council’s representative on the Committee. 

NSW Health representative
Dr Craig Dalton
Dr Dalton is a public health physician at Hunter New England Health and Conjoint Senior Lecturer, in the School Medical Practice and Public Health at the University of Newcastle. Craig has been involved in human health risk assessment and communication related to a wide range of environmental health issues in the Hunter since 1997.

• Meeting 48, 18 October 2017 (PDF 3.54MB)
• Meeting 47, 19 July 2017 (PDF 2.23MB)
• Meeting 46, 17 May 2017 (PDF 2.75MB)
• Meeting 45, 15 February 2017 (PDF 2.35MB)
• Meeting 44, 19 October 2016 (PDF 1.9MB)
• Meeting 43, 20 July 2016 (PDF 285KB)
• Meeting 42, 20 April 2016 (PDF 251KB)
• Meeting 41, 17 February 2016 (PDF 202KB)
• Meeting 40, 21 October 2015 (PDF 297KB)
• Meeting 39, 16 September 2015 (PDF 310KB)
• Meeting 38, 22 July 2015 (PDF 277KB)
• Meeting 37, 17 June 2015 (PDF 218KB)
• Meeting 36, 20 May 2015 (PDF 229KB)
• Meeting 35, 18 March 2015 (PDF 35KB)
• Meeting 34, 18 February 2015 (PDF 273KB)
• Meeting 33, 10 December 2014 (PDF 268KB)
• Meeting 32, 12 November 2014 (PDF 239KB)
• Meeting 31, 8 October 2014 (PDF 278KB)
• Meeting 30, 10 September 2014 (PDF 244KB)
• Meeting 29, 13 August 2014 (PDF 230KB)
• Meeting 28, 9 July 2014 (PDF 207KB)
• Meeting 27, 11 June 2014 (PDF 277KB)
• Meeting 26, 9 April 2014 (PDF 224KB)
• Meeting 25, 12 March 2014 (PDF 192KB)
• Meeting 24, 12 February 2014 (PDF 212KB)
• Meeting 23, 13 November 2013 (PDF 212KB)
• Meeting 22, 16 October 2013 (PDF 54KB)
• Meeting 21, 16 September 2013 (PDF 42KB)
• Meeting 20, 14 August 2013 (PDF 42KB)
• Meeting 19, 10 July 2013 (PDF 35KB)
• Meeting 18, 12 June 2013 (PDF 31KB)
• Meeting 17, 8 May 2013 (PDF 35KB)
• Meeting 16, 13 March 2013 (PDF 67KB)
• Meeting 15, 13 February 2013 (PDF 33KB)
• Meeting 14, 12 December 2012 (PDF 31KB)
• Meeting 13, 5 November 2012 (PDF 34KB)
• Meeting 12, 10 October 2012 (PDF 46KB)
• Meeting 11, 10 September 2012 (PDF 30KB)
• Meeting 10, 11 July 2012 (PDF 39KB)
• Meeting 9, 13 June 2012 (PDF 42KB)
• Meeting 8, 9 May 2012 (PDF 64KB)
• Meeting 7, 16 April 2012 (PDF 60KB)
• Meeting 6, 14 March 2012 (PDF 89KB)
• Meeting 5, 8 February 2012 (PDF 74KB)
• Meeting 4, 19 December 2011 (PDF 46KB)
• Meeting 3, 30 November 2011 (PDF 33KB)
• Meeting 2, 17 November 2011 (PDF 47KB)
• Meeting 1, 11 November 2011 (PDF 50KB)
• Attachment 1: Verification actions matrix (PDF 1.8MB)
• Attachment 2: Verification actions matrix ammonia feed tanks (PDF 816KB)

Presentations made to the committee

• Port Waratah Sustainability Approach & Environmental Case Studies for NCCCE (PDF 2.96 MB) 11 December 2018
• AMSA regulation of Air Emissions from Ships for NCCCE (PDF 869KB)  11 September 2018
• OEH Newcastle Air Quality Monitoring Network Autumn 2018 (PDF 1.76 MB) 11 September 2018) 
• Major air quality projects and programs 2014-15 (PDF 56KB)  June 2014 
• NCCCE Emergency Management Arrangements (PDF 1MB) 8 February 2011
• NCCCE Air quality monitoring (PDF 1.13MB) 30 November 2011
• NCCCE Information Briefing (PDF 574KB) 30 November 2011
• NCCCE Lower Hunter B (PDF 899KB) 17 November 2011
• NCCCE Lower Hunter A (PDF 1.04MB) 17 November 2011
• NCCCE Overview (PDF 273KB) 11 November 2011
• NCCCE Upper Hunter (PDF 273KB) 11 November 2011
• Keith Craig SCAG - Stockton environmental monitoring (PDF 32KB)

• Orica start-up committee (PDF 17KB)
• Orica decision report (14 December 2011) (PDF 214KB)

Current monitoring results

For current monitoring results, go to the map of the Newcastle Air Quality Monitoring Network.

Air quality seasonal newsletters

For air quality seasonal newsletters, go to Newcastle monitoring reports.

Reports

• Newcastle Local Government Area Environment Protection Licence Summary (PDF 214KB)
• Review of Meteorology in the Newcastle Inner City & Port Neighbourhood (PDF 5.6MB)
• Lower Hunter Ambient Air Quality Review of Available Data (PDF 7.3MB)

Lower Hunter air quality studies

The EPA consulted with the Newcastle Community Consultative Committee on the Environment on the design and management of the Lower Hunter air quality studies.

Lower Hunter Air Quality Monitoring Monthly Reports

Review of ambient air quality data 2014

Review of ambient air quality data 2013

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is the Australian Government agency responsible for implementing the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). MARPOL contains six annexes, of which, Annex VI regulates air pollution from ships to protect the marine environment and human health. This includes greenhouse gases (GHG) and sulfur oxide emissions. 

Sulphur oxide emissions

Under MARPOL, since 1 January 2012 ships globally have been required to use a maximum of 3.50 % m/m (mass by mass) sulfur in fuel oil. On 1 January 2020 this global limit will be reduced to 0.50 %. This change will significantly reduce the amount of sulfur oxide (SOx) being emitted from ships and is expected to have major environmental and health benefits, particularly for populations living close to ports and coasts.

Marine diesel oil and petrol sulfur content is generally below this limit and the changed limit will most directly affect larger vessels that use intermediate or heavy fuel oil.

During the transition to the 0.50 % limit, AMSA is working closely with stakeholders to ensure that Australian ships, ports, refineries and fuel suppliers are ready for this change. More information on the new requirement, including how to be involved in the ongoing stakeholder consultation, can be found on the AMSA website.

More information is available on cruise ship compliance in Sydney Harbour.