Coal to nuclear: Tarong among sites eyed for reactor conversion

Residents from a town in the South Burnett are being surveyed about their views on nuclear energy as the Coalition evaluates potential sites for nuclear reactors.

Stanwell Tarong Power Station. (PHOTO: Katherine Morris)

Nanango residents have reported receiving a phone survey regarding their views on nuclear energy as the Coalition considers potential sites for nuclear reactors.

Speaking on Sky News, Member for Maranoa David Littleproud announced the coalition will soon disclose which coal-fired power stations have been earmarked as potential nuclear reactor sites.

Mr Littleproud confirmed that polling has been conducted, revealing that respondents “have been very supportive of a nuclear future”.

Discussions about converting Tarong Power Station to nuclear have been ongoing for years.

In 2019, the Australian Nuclear Association listed Tarong as one of 10 locations in Queensland suitable for a nuclear reactor.

Member for Maranoa David Littleproud. Picture by Penny Bradfield AUSPIC/DPS

Last week on Channel Seven, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton stated the coalition was “interested” in replacing coal plants with nuclear power once they reached the end of their life cycle.

“If there’s a retiring coal asset with an existing distribution network, that’s really what we’re interested in,” Mr Dutton said.

However, Queensland Premier Steven Miles raised concerns about the cost and environmental impact of nuclear power.

He said nuclear power could cost “up to five times more” for household energy bills and future generations would have to manage nuclear waste indefinitely.

“That’s the LNP’s plan; higher prices and nuclear waste, putting our waterways, environment, and beautiful state at risk,” Mr Miles said.

A recent CSIRO report identified nuclear power as the most expensive way to generate electricity, not accounting for the long-term costs of nuclear waste disposal, which must be safely stored for at least 10,000 years.

Mr Littleproud argued the report “failed to acknowledge that a nuclear power plant operates for some 80 to 100 years.”

“CSIRO doesn’t know our energy mix that we’ll announce, which will include nuclear power plants running at greater than 90 per cent capacity. That’s how you drive the cost down,” he said.

Stanwell Tarong Power Station. Picture: Katherine Morris

The report also estimated that building a nuclear power plant in Australia would likely take 16 years.

The Australian Climate Council noted the nuclear industry’s own analysis shows an average construction time of 9.4 years for power stations.

With the Tarong Power Station is scheduled to close in 2037, it would be at least 2047 before a nuclear plant could be operational in the South Burnett region.