Orica is seeking to renew its licence to store ammonium nitrate at its Kooragang Island facility, four months after a massive explosion in Beirut put the Newcastle plant in the spotlight.
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The plant is classified as a major hazard facility because it stores on average between 6000 and 12,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate.
The explosion in Beirut, which killed at least 100 people and injured more than 4000, was sparked by a fire at a warehouse containing 2750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate.
The incident tapped a vein of community unease about the storage of the explosive material at Kooragang Island.
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Orica recently advised residents living in suburbs surrounding Kooragang Island that it was applying to renew its hazardous materials licence in via a community newsletter.
The company insists it follows world's best practice regarding the storage and handling of ammonium nitrate.
Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon also travelled to the Kooragang plant to endorse its safety standards.
"My mother lives about a kilometre from here as the crow flies and I leave the plant not having any concerns about my mum and therefore I'm pretty relaxed about the safety of the community more generally," he said.
"One of the things that needs to be considered here is if the plant was forced to be moved elsewhere then we probably wouldn't have a plant....we would be importing the same product and probably stockpiling it here at the Port of Newcastle. In fact, the turnover would be slower and we would be storing more ammonium nitrate for longer periods here at the port."
In order for the plant's Major Hazard Facility licence to be renewed, the site's safety management systems, security arrangements and emergency response procedures must undergo a rigorous auditing and verification by SafeWork NSW.
A SafeWork NSW spokesperson said the state had a "robust and comprehensive" licensing system in place for the importation, export and manufacture of ammonium nitrate.
"To operate in NSW, storage facilities must demonstrate they can ensure the safety of the community and local environment, comply with NSW's legislation, and prepare a comprehensive risk, emergency and safety management plan before a license is issued," he said.
"All facilities are subject to routine and un-announced visits from inspectors to ensure compliance with licence conditions."
Among those opposed to Orica's presence on Kooragang Island is Tony Richards, who managed and designed blasting operations for Orica and BHP.
Mr Richards estimated an ammonium nitrate explosion on Kooragang Island could cause major damage as far away as Charlestown.
"I have often said that if Kooragang Island goes up the people in Sydney will hear it and say 'what's that?' The answer will be it used to be Newcastle," Mr Richards told the Newcastle Herald in August.
An online petition calling for Orica to relocate its Kooragang Island ammonium nitrate storage facility in the wake of the Beirut explosion has reached almost 15,000 signatures.
"Newcastle has a ticking time bomb of 6,000 to 12,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate sitting just 800 metres away from Newcastle residents," the petition, an initiative of several Newcastle community groups and GetUp, reads.
"Please stand with the people of Newcastle to demand Orica immediately relocate their ammonium nitrate stockpile to a safer location away from homes."
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Matthew Kelly
Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues.
Matthew Kelly has worked as a journalist for more than 25 years. He has been working as a general reporter at the Newcastle Herald since 2018. In recent years he has reported on subjects including environment, energy, water security, manufacturing and higher education. He has previously covered issues including the health and environmental impacts of uncovered coal wagons in the Hunter Valley, the pollution of legacy of former industrial sites and freedom of information issues.
