Alarm over Appin power plant impacts on Sydney air quality

Greens NSW MP John Kaye said: "Sydney's unacceptable air quality is already contributing to an alarming rate of respiratory disease.

"The construction of a large gas fired power station at the top of the airshed is a recipe for even more asthma.

"Burning gas produces oxides of nitrogen which are a key ingredient of photochemical smog, especially on cold winter days when the power station will be running to provide peak loads.

"The Greens conference called for all proposed power stations along with new housing developments in the Camden Valley to be carefully assessed for their potential cumulative impacts on photochemical smog.

"A 300 MW peak load power station like the one AGL is proposing for Leafs Gully is simply unnecessary.

"It would be cheaper and much better for Sydney's air quality to invest in  peak load management to eliminate the stress on the power system at times of high demand for electricity.

"It makes no sense to sacrifice the lungs of Sydney's young people to AGL's profits," Dr Kaye said.