ERARING Power Station was still smouldering last night after an explosion at the plant caused an oil spill that some fear could cause environmental damage much worse than authorities have admitted.
A large oil slick flowed from the power station’s outlet canal into Myuna Bay, Whiteheads Lagoon and Lake Macquarie.
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Despite this, Eraring, state officials and fire authorities said the oil spill had been contained and insisted the environment would not be harmed.
Environmental experts said the oil spill should never have been allowed to occur. There were fears of threats to marine life and biodiversity.
The incident happened about 2.30am yesterday, when a transformer-generator containing about 8000 litres of oil exploded.
Eraring managing director Peter Jackson said the power station had a good system to prevent oil spilling into the lake in such an event.
A bund, a barrier designed to contain oil, had been built around the transformer.
‘‘The system protects oil from getting out, but sometimes it’s impossible to stop a small amount of oil [spilling],’’ he said.
Mr Jackson said he did not know how much oil had spilled.
The power station and firefighters put three booms in the canal to try to prevent the oil spreading.
NSW Fire and Rescue Superintendent Tom Cooper said the oil may have discharged during the explosion, going ‘‘over the side wall of the bund and into the canal’’.
Environmentalist Alison Dunne said Myuna Bay was rich in ecology.
‘‘Diverse marine critters are attracted to the hot-water outlet canal [which runs into Myuna Bay],’’ Ms Dunne said. ‘‘It is well documented that seagrass meadows have increased in the area, which attracts marine ecology like turtles, rare rays and little seahorses.’’
She was also concerned about the impact of oil on wetlands near the power station’s ash dam.
Jim Sullivan, a retired senior environment protection officer, said the oil spill should not have happened.
‘‘It’s not an accident, it’s bad management by the company and regulators,’’ Mr Sullivan, of Coal Point, said.
‘‘Residents are trying to do their best to protect the lake and you have state agencies doing this to us.’’
But NSW Office of Environment and Heritage regional manager Grahame Clarke said the oil would evaporate in sunlight and wind.
‘‘The booms they have in place are the appropriate action to collect the material,’’ Mr Clarke said.
‘‘We’re not expecting any significant environmental impacts.’’
Mr Jackson said Eraring would investigate all aspects of the incident and its response.
Myuna Bay Sport and Recreation Centre staff suspended all water-based activities as a precaution.
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