NSW: Union welcomes steelmill but environment experts uncertain

AAP General News (Australia)
02-14-2001
NSW: Union welcomes steelmill but environment experts uncertain

A major steel union has hailed the announcement of a new mill in Newcastle as a project
that will reinvigorate the region.

Austeel and New South Wales Premier BOB CARR today announced the $3 billion steel mill
-- one of the biggest industrial projects ever undertaken in Australia.

While Mr CARR has suggested the deal is not a fait accompli, Austeel Chairman CLIVE
PALMER is more positive, saying it would take a war to stop the mill going ahead.

But environment expert PHILLIP O'NEILL questions if the proposal will go ahead in Newcastle
after the developer failed to announce a site today.

Mr O'NEILL, the senior Environmental Studies lecturer at the University of Newcastle,
says the proposal requires a 150 hectare industrial site that will be hard to come by
in the Hunter region.

But the state government and Austeel say construction on the $3 billion steel mill
will begin in Newcastle next year.

Australian Workers Union Newcastle and northern regions branch secretary KEVIN MAHER
says the Austeel mill will directly result in 1,500 jobs, with the potential for up to
3,500 indirectly.





He says Austeel's decision to bring steel back to Newcastle is welcome news, particularly
after the closure of BHP's steel operations there in 1999.

AAP RTV nd/aa/rp/hn/jn

KEYWORD: MILL SITE (SYDNEY)

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