On Friday the NSW Department of Planning released a statement confirming the Camden Haven Courier’s front page story last week that the plan was indeed a ‘dead duck’.

“The NSW Department of Planning has confirmed that the Minister for Planning cannot determine the Herons Creek power station proposal without landowner’s consent.

“The Department wrote to the power station proponent, International Power (Australia) Pty Ltd, on June 18 asking it to withdraw the application.

“The letter from Major Projects Assessment executive director Chris Wilson also confirms the Department has ceased assessing the merits of the proposal pending advice from International Power.”

The letter the NSW Planning Department to International Power Australia read, in part: “Given that Council has resolved not to sell the site for the development of a distillate fuelled power station, the prospect of the proposal proceeding is remote. Under these circumstances, the Department has ceased assessing the merits of the proposal pending advice from International Power regarding the future of the application. Given the current uncertainty surrounding the proposal, the Department considers it appropriate that the application be withdrawn.”

Local lobby group Residents Against Power Pollution received the news with enthusiasm and are now investigating ways to ensure a diesel-fuelled power plant is never needed in the region in future.

“We are investigating sustainable options, particularly the possibility of purchasing solar cells,” said RAPP member Jacque McLaren.

“A similar project happened at Black Head where the council purchased cells and the power was fed back into the grid and the savings passed on. If we can do similar then if the power plant proposal rears it’s ugly head again we will have an even stronger argument that it won’t be needed here.”