Cr Bradbery was responding to Thursday’s announcement that the Department of Planning and Environment had approved TQ Holdings’ plan to build 23 large fuel storage tanks on the edge of Port Kembla harbour.

Mr Bradbery said he had “great concerns” over the addition of 288 mega litres of fuel storage at the port, and the requisite transport of the cargo though the city.

“While I welcome the investment I have great concern over the fuel being distributed by road through the city and more specifically the suburbs around the Port,” Cr Bradbery said.

“An extra 200 plus truck movements on Mt Ousley, the M1 (which is already at capacity) with loads of volatile fuel raises great concerns.”

Despite these concerns, Wollongong City Council did not make a submission to the major projects assessment. Submissions were open last December-January.

“I want to see and receive assurances from RMS, Department of Planning and Emergency Services that various scenarios in disaster management have been thought through.

“What if there is a major spill or tank rupture on Mt Ousley? I think the residents of Wollongong need these assurances. I will expect the State Government to do so.”

The Environmental Assessment Report from the Planning Department includes estimates of 24 truck trips per hour during morning and afternoon peak periods during the construction phase. This would rise to 36 trips per hour in peak times (206 trips per day) when the tank depot is operational.

It said the developer would implement a traffic management plan, and then the “local road network has the capacity to accommodate the additional trucks”.

Mr Bradbery, who is running for the state seat of Wollongong in a byelection, also linked this issue to the need for upgrades to the rail link to Sydney, and the long-stalled Maldon to Dombarton freight rail plan.

TQ Holdings is a joint venture between Japanese fuel transport group TonenGeneral, and major Australian logistics company Qube.