Toowoomba Groom MP Garth Hamilton backs Coalition nuclear reactor plan including Tarong site proposal near Yarraman

Toowoomba’s federal MP has thrown his support behind a plan to build a nuclear reactor just kilometres from the region. Read all the reactions here:

A nuclear power plant would be built within 10km of the Toowoomba region border under a new proposal by the Coalition that has been endorsed by Groom MP Garth Hamilton.

Mr Hamilton has thrown his support behind Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s plan to build seven government-owned plants across Australia if elected next year.

One of the two Queensland sites is the current Tarong power plant in the South Burnett, which is just a short drive from the Toowoomba region town of Yarraman.

The initiative has sparked significant debate across the country, with both local and environmental groups slamming it and even Mr Dutton’s state counterparts in the LNP pouring cold water on the proposal.

There are also questions over whether nuclear power could be delivered affordably or put downward pressure on electricity prices.

The CSIRO’s own modelling from this year put the cost of one theoretical 1000MW plant at $8.5bn, while also arguing the electricity would still be more expensive per megawatt hour than renewables.

Griffith University’s Dr Nathan Garland said it was “unknown” whether electricity from nuclear power would be cheaper or more expensive in the future.

Member for Groom, Garth Hamilton. Australia Day celebrations at Picnic Point in Toowoomba.Thursday, January 26, 2023. Picture: Nev Madsen.

But Mr Hamilton, who has been an ardent proponent of nuclear power, said Toowoomba residents were supportive of the multi-decade plan and its predicted outcomes around cheaper energy prices.

“We saw through Covid-19 the need for self-reliance and energy production is one of those — this is a conversation about what’s right for Australia,” he said.

“It’s remarkable that 32 other countries have been able to build nuclear operations, and that another 50 countries are looking at it.

“Maybe the CSIRO is right, maybe these 32 countries are right, I guess the view is Australia can have a vote on that.

“I actually think the biggest issue (for Groom residents) is having affordable and reliable power and I cannot think of anyone who is excited about paying higher costs.”

Stanwell Tarong Power Station is making changes to stay competitive in the energy market. (PHOTO: Katherine Morris)

But Mr Hamilton stressed the plan would not result in a change to the way Australia delivered and stored electricity, which has been a focus of criticism by experts like the University of Southern Queensland’s Associate Professor Andreas Helwig in the past.

When asked about Prof Helwig’s belief that the country should have a national energy reserve strategy, the MP believed nuclear could be part of the conversation.

“There is a broader point around addressing the structural issues with our energy supply,” Mr Hamilton said.

“These would be government-owned, so some of the issues around energy supply would be addressed by that.”

Mr Hamilton said regardless of the delivery, both Toowoomba and Australia needed to have a “mature conversation” about nuclear power as part of a holistic energy model.

“We’re engaging in a mature, grown-up conversation about nuclear energy, the treasurer has decided to call us dumb and stupid,” he said.

“Politics isn’t about you’ve done, it’s what you’re going to do and the policies you’re putting forward.

“My hope is we’ll continue to be an energy-agnostic country, and Groom is a great example.

“We’ve got a coal mine, we’ve got a gas-fired power station, there’s solar and wind.”

Yarraman business owner ‘wants assurance’ on safety

Bradley Frohloff with his staff.

A nuclear reactor being built just outside the Toowoomba region could deliver economic benefits to the town of Yarraman, but only if it’s safe.

That’s according to Frohlies Meats co-owner Bradley Frohloff, who said he was interested by the proposal put forward by the Coalition.

Mr Frohloff said he would need assurance about the safeness of the plan before he could support it.

“My initial thoughts are, when you say nuclear I think bombs (but) when I think about it more, I think about opportunities and what it could bring to our community,” he said.

“The big question is we need to be assured it’s 100 per cent safe.

“I’d need to see a lot more before I got behind it, but I do like the idea it would bring business to our country town.”

Mr Frohloff said his butchery’s previous owner had benefited from the construction of the Tarong Power Station in the 1980s and 1990s.

“The old owner, the power plant made him, it set him up because they had a camp here in Yarraman,” he said.

Climate groups slam Tarong proposal

Queensland Conservation Council's Clare Silcock.

Calls by the federal Coalition for Australia to go nuclear were labelled a dangerous distraction by climate groups.

Queensland Conservation Council Energy Analyst Clare Silcock said the argument nuclear power was a cheap option was fundamentally wrong.

“There has been a lot of research into the cost that shows nuclear power is four to five times more expensive than wind and solar backed by batteries, it is a bit baffling to us to hear politicians talk about it being cheaper,” she said.

“Solar panel costs have come down. It is by far the cheapest option.

“The CSIRO said having 90 per cent of our power coming from renewables is still cheaper than nuclear.

“But nuclear is not without its complications, we have to build a whole supply change and waste industry so we have to factor those costs in.”

Ahri Tallon from the Darling Downs Environment Council was equally dismissive of the idea of a nuclear reactor at Tarong.

He said it would place too great a burden on Queensland water supply, and the state budget.

“Australia currently struggles to store low-grade waste from nuclear medical facilities,” he said.

Originally published as Toowoomba Groom MP Garth Hamilton backs Coalition nuclear reactor plan including Tarong site proposal near Yarraman