Kooragang biodiesel plant approved

Australias Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor, has approved the construction of a marine fuel storage and biodiesel production plant at Kooragang Island. This would produce up to 52 mega liters of biodiesel a year and would be produced in the industrial area on the southern end of Kooragang Island. Six submissions were received during the proposal’s exhibition period, outlining concerns over contamination, spill containment, port safety and fire detection and suppression. These issues were addressed by Manildra Park in a report provided to the Department of Planning in April. Conditions on the approval include minimizing environmental effects. (June 11, 2008)