A last-ditch attempt to stop the demolition of the Port Kembla stack was made by Wollongong City Councillor Vicki Curran at Monday night's council meeting.
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Cr Curran moved the item as a "matter of great urgency", looking for the council to intervene in the stack demolition due to take place tomorrow morning.
She moved that council should issue an order under Section 124 item 15 of the Local Government Act to stop Port Kembla Copper from demolishing the stack.
This section allows a council to issue an order not to conduct an activity - approved or not - if "the activity constitutes or is likely to constitute: (a) a life-threatening hazard, or (b) a threat to public health or public safety and is not regulated or controlled under any other Act by a public authority."
Cr Curran's motion stated the works should cease until the council had received a range of clearance reports as to whether or not asbestos was present in the stack.
She also called on the council to write to Planning Minister Brad Hazzard "alerting him to our concerns regarding compliance to the conditions of approval".
The councillors voted overwhelmingly against the motion.
A second motion was passed to write to Mr Hazzard requesting confirmation by noon today "that all planning requirements and conditions relating to the demolition of the Port Kembla Copper Stack, including the removal and disposal of hazardous substances, are being complied with".
If such assurances were not forthcoming, the council would ask Mr Hazzard to delay the demolition.
Wednesday: Exclusion zone fencing will start to be erected but full access will remain open.
Thursday, 6am: Exclusion zone closed to entering vehicles.
7.30am: Police doorknock exclusion zone and ask residents to depart.
8am: All exclusion zone homes visited.
8am: Exclusion zone closed to exiting vehicles.
8.45am-11am: Demolition to take place during this time, dependent on safety checks.
All clear will be given after checks by authorities via registered SMS numbers, stackinfo.com.au, ABC Illawarra Radio. Road barriers lifted.