Biloela residents have their say on plan for Callide nuclear power plant
For Biloela publican Steve Kerswell, anything that brings jobs to his town is a good thing – even if it means a nuclear power. Here’s what the community and other Central Qlders had to say. VIDEOS, PICS
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For Biloela publican Steve Kerswell, anything that brings jobs to his town is a good thing – even if it means a nuclear power plant in his backyard.
The manager of the Commercial Hotel believes a plant at Callide would be “great for the economy”.
“Callide Power Station has a shelf life anyway,” he said.
“At some stage it will be replaced or shut down.
“Anything that brings investment, infrastructure, and employment into the community is a great idea.”
Opinions at the local watering hole were largely positive.
Customers and Biloela residents Ann Maree Wise and Dave Clark agreed nuclear power was a good thing.
“I just think it’s something that if we have got the resources to power the nuclear site without buying it from another country, why not supply the uranium and do our own power,” Mr Clark said.
“It will be good for the town.
“There will be jobs.”
Kenny Selwyn, who hails from Biloela but currently lives in Gladstone, would also like to see a plant built in the area “to keep a lot of local jobs in town”.
“It would be good to see one near Biloela to keep a lot of people in town around their families and happy,” he said.
However, Rockhampton’s Dylan Young and Aiden Brown, who had stopped into the pub for lunch said they were against nuclear power and “we have done fine without it”.
“I don’t agree with it,” Mr Young said.
Out in the town’s main street, opinions were split.
Biloela resident Alison Tanskanen said “I don’t think we need it”.
“Isn’t it enough with the Callide Power Station?” she questioned.
Barry Hoare, from Moura, said there had been issues with the Callide Power Station and a nuclear power plant “should have been initiated one or two decades ago”.
“I don’t have a problem with there being one,” he said, adding he still believed there should be more of a focus on gas-fired power.
Dave Camplin, also from Moura, said a nuclear power plant was not something he wanted to see.
But Biloela’s Garry Matheson was for a nuclear power plant built near the town he had lived in for 70 years.
“They close our coal mines, they close our power station Biloela will die,” he said.
“It’s as simple as that.
“I believe in nuclear energy.
“I didn’t back in the 70s but I do now.
“They know what they are doing with it more and the dangers are a lot less.”
Biloela dad Blake Denniss was for nuclear power and a plant being built near the town.
“I think it is the way to go,” he said.
Biloela mum Anais McMillan wasn’t not keen on nuclear power as a concept in general or project for her town.
“It’s too close for comfort,” she said.
“There’s not enough information.
“Coal-fired power all the way.”
In council quarters, nuclear energy has been on the lips of leaders in the resource rich region for some time.
Walking the streets with this publication on Friday, Banana Shire mayor Neville Ferrier said safety was the priority.
“We were already thinking about it before the last few months,” he said.
“As a council we have got to make sure it is safe and that everybody understands the risk if there is any.
“We had already made arrangements to have a nuclear expert come here and talk to the council.
“We did that a few months ago and they will be here in a few weeks time.
“We will get the right information from an expert and go from there.”
Vice president of the Callide Dawson Chamber of Commerce and local barber Steve Bates was all for nuclear power in Australia and a plant at Callide.
“I think it is a wonderful technology that can advance us into the future and I wouldn’t have any problem having one built outside my town here,” he said.
The community of Biloela was divided on whether they would be comfortable with a nuclear reactor being built in the region.
This publication spoke to 100 people in Biloela on Friday following Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s announcement this week that he would build seven nuclear power plants across Australia, including one at Callide.
Of those questioned – a majority believed nuclear power had a place in Australia’s future energy mix, with 51 people saying they were for nuclear power and 34 against it.
15 people said they did not know how they felt about nuclear power either way or had no opinion.
Several in the community said they didn’t know much about nuclear power and wanted more information.
Local reaction to whether they would be comfortable with a nuclear reactor being built in their region was a closer call with 49 people saying they would be comfortable and 41 people saying they wouldn’t.
A further 10 people didn’t have an opinion either way.
When asked if it would make them more or less likely to vote for the Coalition at the next federal election, 33 people responded that it would make them more likely.
However, 44 said it would make them less likely to vote for the Coalition at the next federal election or that they wouldn’t be voting for the LNP in general in Queensland.
Some who were for nuclear power and felt comfortable with a nuclear reactor being built in the region said the plan still didn’t make them more likely to vote for the Coalition and others felt there were other more important issues.
There were 20 people that either didn’t know if it would make them more or less likely to vote for the Coalition or wouldn’t say.
Three said they couldn’t vote due to not being Australian citizens.
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