By Noel Murphy
ANTI-coal activists are gearing up for a new anti-Alcoa rally at Anglesea this weekend as 80 workers await their fate in the wake of the company’s smelter closure at Geelong.
Surf Coast Air Action has ramped up its campaign against the Anglesea plant continuing as Alcoa talks with prospective buyers, arguing Asian interests want to export coal from the mine and export it through an expanded Geelong port.
A SCAA spokesperson recently told the Independent the claims were speculative and based on hearsay and reliable sources. In recent months, the group has found itself at odds with Alcoa, AGL Energy and the Australian workers Union over its claims.
A rally will be staged this Sunday at 11am at the Anglesea Skate Park, followed by a march to the power station site via the Anglesea primary school.
Speakers will include Rob Gell, Surf Coast councillor Margot Smith, Dr Nicholas Aberle of Environment Victoria and Kayla Foster of GetUp!
In a statement posted to its Facebook site this week, SCAA accused Alcoa of conducting an opaque expressions of interest process with un-named companies without any community consultation with a view to selling the Anglesea facility.
The interested companies are believed to include foreign backed entities, which may be eying the fragile Anglesea heath and the underlying coal as an export opportunity through Geelong, SCAA said.
SCAA have repeatedly called upon the Victorian Energy Minister Russell Northe to consult with the community and to intervene by commissioning independent research into the risks of public health, coal mine fire and ground movement from the continued operation of the Anglesea facility.
The State Government has however ignored the concerns of Surf Coast residents, while Alcoa appears to have ready access to the ear of key decision-makers.
