Federal Government denies claims it has a preferred site for radioactive waste storage in South Australia
A source claims there is a preferred site for the nuclear waste dump and it’ll be 60 per cent bigger – but the Federal Government says nowhere is favoured yet.
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The Federal Government says it is yet to select a favoured site for its proposed radioactive waste facility, rebuffing claims that a Kimba property is the frontrunner.
A source close to the project has told The Advertiser the radioactive waste storage site is likely to be at least 60 per cent bigger than previously envisaged, covering at least 160ha.
The Federal Government also says it is not bound to wait until community ballots on the project – held up by a legal challenge – are complete before selecting the best spot for the project.
The source, who asked to not to be identified, says doubt has been cast over the cropping and agricultural trials which were expected to happen at the site.
The Government is considering three properties for the radioactive waste facility – two near Kimba and one near Hawker. A Kimba-based consultative committee is due to meet next month to discuss the project.
The source believes Napandee – a property near Kimba – is the Government’s preferred site and next month’s meeting will discuss revised requirements for the proposed waste repository.
“It seems to align with this revelation … that they suddenly have to increase the size of the land from 100ha to 160ha or 170ha,” the source said. “They’ve always said that there would be cropping and agricultural trials at the (land) that’s not being used for the buildings. Apparently now the safety regulator has said that is not going to happen.”
The Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation took Kimba Council to court in January over its plan run a community ballot to determine the level of support for the dump, arguing it was discriminatory.
Napandee owner Jeff Baldock said the Kimba community was awaiting the court ruling. A spokesman for the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science said the Government was not required to wait until the court process was complete to decide on the best location for the site, which would measure at least 100ha.
“That said, it has been stated consistently that if there is no broad support for the facility then it will not be imposed on a community.”
The spokesman said technical studies would help determine the exact size and uses of a buffer zone around the site’s buildings.
Kimba chief executive Deb Larwood said the community was “in a holding pattern” until the Barngarla case was finalised.
A spokesperson for the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency said it would require the radioactive waste facility licence operator to conduct ongoing monitoring for radiological impacts across the entire site.
"This may include cropping and agricultural trials. While ARPANSA would not conduct any cropping or agricultural trials itself, we would monitor changes and assess any anomalies based on data from operator trials, monitoring and reporting," the spokesperson said.