Consideration of Shell's conversion proposal

Shell’s multi-million Clyde Terminal Conversion proposal is under consideration by the Department of Planning & Infrastructure.

Shell sought development consent for the demolition of the existing processing units, surplus storage tanks and other redundant infrastructure; and upgrades and improvements to storage tanks to be retained at the site to enable more efficient receipt, dosing, storage and distribution of imported finished petroleum products.

Shell, which ceased refining operations at the terminal in late 2012, used the refinery for the receipt and refining of crude oil and receipt of imported finished product from Gore Bay via a 19-kilometre pipeline.

Finished products stored at the refinery were then distributed by pipeline to Sydney Airport and Newcastle and via road haulage to other sites, said the environmental impact statement (EIS) prepared by AECOM Australia.

Shell has decided to convert the refinery, which has been operating since 1928, and the terminal into finished product facilities received at the Gore Bay Terminal by sea tankers and transferred via the existing pipeline to the Clyde site to continue to supply the domestic fuel markets and capitalise on the company’s existing land and infrastructure, on the Camellia Industrial Estate.

The demolition and removal of infrastructure at the terminal would also release approximately 44.5 hectares of land in the western section in the refinery for future use, and around 25 hectares within the north-eastern portion of the site for potential future redevelopment for employment-generating activities.

The EIS noted Parramatta City Council’s economic strategy recognises the importance of maintaining the industrial character of the industrial estate, which is “identified as an employment area that would be suitable for renewal as an employment rich knowledge precinct, providing highly skilled and knowledge based employment concentrating on advanced construction and energy with a focus on renewables, and also perhaps on research and development”.

The nearby Rosehill Gardens Racecourse has been identified by council as an area that could be further improved upon to provide retail, food, ATM and recreational facilities to support this workforce on the industrial estate.