$55m at stake in radioactive waste site search, as Kimba awaits dump decision
After spending almost $55 million in the search for a radioactive waste site, it’s now unlikely the Federal Government will abandon Kimba as a host community according to a SA senator.
SA Business
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA Business. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Kimba in the box seat to host nuclear waste facility
- The Advertiser +Rewards – subscriber giveaways, offers and comps
Almost $55 million has been invested in finding a site for a national radioactive waste dump since 2014, data presented to a parliamentary committee shows.
And Centre Alliance Senator Rex Patrick says it’s now unlikely the Government will abandon Kimba as the host community, with such a large taxpayer funded investment at stake.
The Economics Legislation Committee has revealed $15 million was budgeted this financial year for the Government’s task force looking after the project, and $54.86 million was spent between July 2014 and October this year.
Figures presented to the committee also showed the Government had spent $743,000 on legal advice, including that covering a case brought by the Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation over the site selection process.
The Federal Court dismissed the organisation’s claim that a ballot to consider community support for a dump in Kimba was discriminatory because it excluded native title holders who did not live in the area.
“Having spent that money I can’t see the Government now looking for further alternate sites,” Mr Patrick said.
“Tt’s almost certain that one of the two Kimba sites will be chosen.”
The Government is looking for a site to store low level radioactive waste for “a few hundred years” and intermediate level waste for several decades.
Wallerberdina Station, near Hawker, was in the running to host the radioactive waste site, but Resources Minister Matt Canavan last week ruled it out following a local poll, which found 53 per cent of voters did not want the dump in the area.
In November, 62 per cent of Kimba voters said they supported plans to build the facility at either Napandee or Lyndhurst, near the Eyre Peninsula town. A separate vote of native title holders rejected the plan.
A spokesman for the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science said Mr Canavan would decide whether one of the sites near Kimba was suitable early next year.
“In recent years, several landowners and communities had expressed interest in participating in the process, and can be considered and progressed if one of the sites near Kimba does not proceed,” the spokesman said.
He said radioactive waste was spread over more than 100 locations around the country, and it was international best practice to consolidate it in a single, safe repository.
MORE NEWS
Federal Government denies claims it has a preferred site for radioactive dump
Hawker residents reject radioactive waste storage proposal for Wallerberdina Station
The spokesman said since 2014, the department had invested about $10 million a year in the site selection process.
“This covered establishment of dedicated information offices with staff in communities, costs associated with heritage and site assessments, millions of dollars’ of community grants and regular staging of consultative committee meetings,” the spokesman said.
“It has also included bringing experts to the communities, other travel to the communities and the salaries of people running the process.”