This report estimates the health burden of air pollution from individual coal-fired power stations in NSW. It is significant new research made possible by recent studies of particle characterisation and atmospheric transport of pollution. The effects of air pollution on human health have been studied and known about for many decades, and the list of health problems to which air pollution contributes continues to grow in tandem with research. This list now includes heart disease, stroke, asthma attacks, low birth weight of babies, lung cancer and type 2 diabetes. Research has also demonstrated that reducing air pollution, even if exposure levels are already low, leads to better health. The form of pollution that has the strongest effect on health is fine particles (PM2.5) and one of the major sources of PM2.5 in the Sydney Greater Metropolitan region is burning coal for electricity. There are five coal-fired power stations in NSW – Bayswater and Liddell in the Upper Hunter Valley, Eraring and Vales Point on the Central Coast, and Mount Piper near Lithgow. This study examines the health burden from premature death, the incidence of low birth weight for babies, and new cases of type 2 diabetes that are attributable to PM2.5 air pollution exposure from these power stations. Air pollution from the five NSW power stations is estimated to lead to 279 deaths or 2,614 ‘Years of Life Lost’ every year for people aged 30 to 99. Each year, this pollution also causes 233 babies to be born weighing less than 2,500 g and causes 361 people who would not otherwise develop type 2 diabetes to develop this disease.

Read the full report now.

The Lithgow and District Community Nursery has thousands of local native plants available for domestic gardens and large scale bush regeneration. All seed for the plants have been sourced from areas such as Lithgow, Upper Blue Mountains, Capertee, Hartley, Tarana and beyond. Many plants are ready for planting, or will be by the end of April. Buy or order now and we van hold plants until 31 April 2018. Plants will NOT be held over winter. Call into the nursery during opening hours, or email your requests on the order form following. Purchases and orders will be taken while stocks lasts.  

Click either of the flyers below for contact details and a plant list.

Our biggest contribution to climate change is how we power our lives and communities. Today 77% of our power comes from coal. But we can change that. This report details that we can #Repower our state with 100% clean energy by 2030. See the findings for yourself. It's 100% doable.

UPDATE 29/06/2018: LEG has completed its fundraising efforts for Hoskins Uniting Church. Lithgow Environment Group, would like to thank all of those who have donated to this project so far. Without your donations, the project wouldn't have achieved what we've reached. The total target has not yet been achieved. The Hoskins Uniting Church will continue on fundraising until they reach the target of $14,571. If you would like to donate to the Hoskins Uniting Church Roof-Top Solar Project, you may do so to the church directly by emailing: lithgowuc@gmail.com. 

LEG Energy Hub's first charitable fund raising project has now launched! Our first campaign will raise money to provide Lithgow's Hoskin's Uniting Church with a roof-top solar system, providing them with free and clean energy they can use to conduct their activities. The Uniting Church has programs that serve young families, elderly and those with a disability, amongst others. Hoskins Memorial Uniting Church Activity Building is the hub of all their social programs. It allows them to provide an area for a diverse range of groups and organistions to have a place to meet. Rising energy costs have reduced their opportunities and they want to do more for their community. Many of the vulnerable they serve use their centre as a save haven. It is their hope that they could better provide a cool space in summer, as well as a warm one in our long, cold winters. By raising those funds and reducing our energy costs, we can continue and expand to meet our community needs.

We need your help with reaching our target. Can you help us get there?

​Lithgow is a Transition Town. The decline of coal fired power generation and coal mining is happening and our economy here in Lithgow is exposed to this decline more than other, less coal dependant places. Despite calls for more of the same we have little influence in this decline. Not even our board rooms in Bangkok, Seoul or Hong Kong have much influence on what is happening but their decisions will be guided by the biggest profit option – and that will not be coal anymore.
 
The transition to something new will not happen tomorrow but it will happen. Transitions come with upheaval and we better prepare for it. Lithgow has a great tradition of surviving transitions: 630 jobs were lost when Hoskins’ steel furnaces shut down, 12,000 (!) people were once employed at the Small Arms Factory…Lithgow didn’t survive these transitions by calling for more of the same but by getting on with something new.
 
That’s why Lithgow Environment has embarked on a campaign we call the Lithgow Renewable Energy Hub. We are setting up an office in the admin building of Hoskins Uniting Church initially open on Thursdays and Fridays to implement our 7 point plan. Here it is:

1. Raise funds for solar installation on roofs of charity organisation buildings
2. Liaise with businesses willing to install solar
3. Lobby Energy Australia for a Pumped Hydro scheme between the lakes
4. Liaise with Dept. of Housing for solar installations
5. Lobby Lithgow City Council for a rates based approach of solar installations
6. Connect with Uni Students
7. Promote the Reskilling of  the workforce

Nothing is as permanent as change – let’s prepare for it, fair and sustainable.

LEG Energy Hub information:
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Location: Hoskins, Uniting Church, Cnr Bridge & Mort Street Lithgow.
Office days and times: Thursday and Friday weekly, 8.30-3.30.
Phone: 0419921092
Email: mailto:info@environment.org