CQ leaders share their views on Dutton plan for Callide nuclear power plant
Community and business leaders in Central Queensland’s resource-rich towns have responded to the Federal Coalition’s pitch for a nuclear power plant near Biloela. It comes as a major solar farm is planned for the same spot.
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A Central Queensland publican and local leaders have shared their views on the Federal Coalition’s plan for a nuclear power plant to be built near Biloela.
It comes after Federal Opposition leader Peter Dutton pitched seven nuclear power plants this week, including one at Callide, and another at Tarong near Nanango.
The Coalition says its nuclear “vision” will ensure Australia has an “always-on” source of baseload power to drive prices down and “keep the lights on” in the transition to net zero by 2050.
Manager of Biloela’s Commercial Hotel, Steve Kerswell, said on Thursday a nuclear power plant nearby would be great for the region and provide ongoing employment.
“We have a lot of renewables coming through the Central Queensland region,” he said.
“We have solar farms, wind farms proposed to be popping up all over the place.
“I guess nuclear will just be a supporter of that.”
Banana Shire mayor Neville Ferrier said the council had organised for an expert on nuclear energy to visit in July “to get the real facts” and only then could he make a call.
“We just got to make sure they are safe,” he said.
“They will tell us how safe they are or how safe they are not.
“Then we can go to the community and say what we found out and go from there.”
For Callide MP Bryson Head however, his priority was getting the Callide coal-fired power plant back to full capacity.
“This (nuclear energy) is not part of my plan for my community,” he said, echoing similar sentiments from Nanango MP and former State Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington.
Gladstone MP Glenn Butcher dismissed Dutton’s nuclear energy plan as “absolutely ridiculous”.
“The costs associated with these precincts are certainly way more than what anyone would expect to pay,” he said.
“I just don’t think the people of Central Queensland want this.”
Capricornia’s Federal MP Michelle Landry spoke in support of her Coalition colleagues’ nuclear energy plan.
“Adding zero-emission nuclear into Australia’s energy mix is a commonsense approach to ensuring our nation’s economic security and continued jobs in the communities,” she said.
“The operational lifespans of renewables and zero-emission nuclear energy are markedly different. Wind and solar farms need to be replaced four times over during the 80-year service life of a nuclear energy plant.
“Australia is the only developed nation not using zero-emissions nuclear technology as a part of a reliable energy mix.
“Only a Coalition Government can deliver an energy plan which will ensure Australia remains strong and resilient. Our plan will deliver a net-zero electricity grid by 2050 which will set our country up for success for decades to come.”
Flynn MP Colin Boyce was singing from the same songbook.
“The Coalition supports nuclear as part of the energy mix as we move toward delivering cheaper energy that does not compromise agricultural land, and the environment,” he said.
“This will provide jobs and opportunities to the Biloela community while also providing 24/7 reliable baseload power for Central Queensland.”
Earlier, Greens Energy Transition spokesperson and Gladstone local, Senator Penny Allman-Payne, slammed the Federal Coalition’s nuclear plan, saying it was a distraction from the Coalition’s non-existent climate policy and Labor’s cowardice in standing up to fossil fuel corporations.
“We need to urgently move away from coal and gas, but both Labor and Liberals are opening more mines and Dutton’s nuclear pipe dream is not the answer. It would produce toxic waste, push up power prices, and endanger regional communities,” she said.
“I live in regional Queensland and I absolutely wouldn’t want a nuclear reactor in my town and know folks across Callide and Tarong want to see a transition to renewable energy.
“The Coalition say they care about the cost of living, yet they’re promoting nuclear energy when the CSIRO says it’s the most expensive power source and people in regional Queensland are already doing it tough.
“Renewable solar and onshore wind are the cheapest energy sources, even with the costs of integrating them into the power grid.
“But this has no chance of getting through parliament, and is merely a distraction from the fact that both Labor and the Liberals want more coal and gas mines, only serving to boost the profits of fossil fuel corporations as they continue to pollute our country and drive climate destruction.
“While we’re in a climate crisis that requires urgent action, neither Labor or the Coalition will meet Australia’s commitment to the Paris Agreement goals. The Greens are for a clean, green, jobs-rich renewable future.
“We need a co-ordinated transition to clean renewables. There is so much opportunity for new jobs and industries in the coal regions, we just need to get on with the job.”
NEW SOLAR POWER STATION
As the nuclear debate continued on Thursday, a document detailing a proposed new Solar Power Station near Biloela was sitting with the Federal Government.
The referral document was recently lodged with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water for the Callide Solar Power Station project.
According to the document, the project, proposed by Edify Energy, would be 200MW Solar Photovoltaic Farm, with a 200MW/800MWh Battery Energy Storage System.
The site would be located about seven kilometres northeast of Biloela, next to the Callide Power Station, with the company also intending to co-locate sheep grazing with the project area following construction of the facility.
The solar farm would have up to 49 sheep initially to test the co-location with the facility, and if successful the number of livestock would increase gradually up to 1000.
The document says the co-location of sheep grazing would maintain an ongoing agricultural use of the site and support greater socio-economic outcomes for the region.
“Sheep grazing will also ensure ongoing agricultural sustainability of the project area,” the document says.
“Currently, the site is used for dryland cropping which results in bare ground and reduced soil health, leading to greater erosion and run-off.
“A pasture based farming activity (such as sheep grazing) can lead to long-term improvement in soil quality (less erosion, run-off and increase organic carbon) and therefore maintain ongoing agricultural viability of the site.”
According to the referral document the solar farm form would be able to provide power to the broader Banana Shire and Central Queensland region.
The solar panels would be mounted on single-axis trackers to follow the sun to maximise the generation of energy.
The document says the tracker systems would also be able to provide shade for livestock during the warmer parts of the day.
Most construction activities for the project are anticipated to take place between the hours of 6am and 6pm Monday to Saturday.
Public comment on the project is open until June 27, 2024.
The documents can be viewed and comment can be lodged on the EPBC Act Public Portal website.
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