25/08/2025
Did you catch the 'explosive' story today from Central Western Daily?
Full Story here: https://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/story/9047520/ammonium-nitrate-transport-expansion-plans-in-central-west-nsw/
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'Concerns over plan to put thousands more tonnes of explosive chemicals onto region's roads
By Riley Krause
Updated August 25 2025 - 8:25am, first published 5:30am
The next step in bringing thousands more tonnes of an explosive chemical onto roads around the Central West has been approved.
Solar Mining Services (SMS) operates an ammonium nitrate emulsion (ANE) manufacturing and storage facility at the Bogan Gate Explosives Reserve, about 37km West of Parkes.
Prior to a meeting of Parkes Shire Council on August 19, the company was only permitted to produce 960 tonnes per annum of the chemical which is used in the mining industry as a bulk blasting agent.
But a planning proposal put forward by the company to permit 'heavy industry' on the site signalled the next step in increasing that number to 20,000 tonnes each year.
History of ANE
Prior to the meeting, four public submissions were put forward, all condemning the proposal.
One person in particular focused on explosions both abroad and on the site in question, involving the very chemical they'll be working with.
On August 4, 2020 an explosion at a port in the Lebanese capital of Beirut killed at least 215 people.
The blast was a result of the detonation of hundreds of tonnes of ammonium nitrate - the chemical used to make ANE - which ignited a blaze which tore through the warehouse in which they were stored.
In 2014, a fireworks explosion - the contents of which were owned by Howard and Sons Pyrotechnics - took place at the site where the ANE plant is located.
A separate explosives manufacturing and storage business - Johnex Pty Ltd - also operates at the explosives reserve.
Another submission noted how the entry/exit point into the facility off Henry Parkes Way was "obviously inadequate".
"Remembering we aren't trying to turn a wheat truck, this truck is full of explosives."
Broader impact
Submissions to the council focused on trucks carrying products in and out of Bogan Gate needing to travel through Parkes.
However more communities across the region than just the immediate neighbours would see the tankers come through their towns.
The CWD understands that during discussions with community members, people were told by SMS that materials needed for manufacturing ANE - including ammonium nitrate - would be brought through the Central West from Port Kembla and Port of Newcastle.
Although no specific towns were mentioned, possible routes could include the Great Western Highway through the Blue Mountains, Bathurst and Orange.
Alternative routes from Port Kembla could see drivers travel down to Yass and up through Cowra, while drivers travelling from Port of Newcastle could opt to travel up to Cassilis, down past Gulgong, Wellington and Yeoval.
In response to questions regarding planned routes, a spokesperson for SMS said that as a manufacturer for other companies, it was not "directly responsible" for the import and transport of ammonium nitrate.
"Solar customers deliver the ammonium nitrate to the Solar plant where it is consumed in the manufacturing process," the spokesperson said.
"Under this arrangement Solar is not responsible for the import and transport of ammonium nitrate in NSW and the Central West.
This is the responsibility of Solar's customers. Solar is therefore unable to provide information on the transport routes of ammonium nitrate used by its customers in delivering ... to the Bogan Gate Reserve."
Council meeting
Discussion amongst councillors on Tuesday regarding the proposal was brief, lasting less than 15 minutes.
After an initial vote, the matter was tied five to five, which meant Mayor Neil Westcott had the final say.
"I think considering this isn't a DA, this is a planning permission thing, I would vote for it," he said, sealing its approval.
The approval to add "heavy industry" to the rural zone in the impacted lot, does not approve any proposed expansion of the facility though.
This means the company is still not allowed to produce and/or store 20,000 tonnes per year yet.
To make that a reality, a development application will need to come through Parkes council with more community consultation to occur as a result, of which Mayor Westcott confirmed would be when the time came.
The council's decision to approve the change was met with praise from SMS.
"Council showed leadership on the administration of its Parkes Local Environmental Plan 2012 to formalise long-standing heavy industry uses on the site, spanning over 75 years," a spokesperson added.
