Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald ambivalent about Coalition’s nuclear plan for South Burnett

The fallout from the Coalition’s plan to build a nuclear reactor within kilometres of the Toowoomba region has continued, with mayor Geoff McDonald weighing in on the idea.

Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald has reacted to the prospect of a nuclear reactor being built within kilometres of the region’s border, saying more information is needed about the plan.

The fallout from the Coalition’s ambitious proposal to build seven nuclear power plants has continued across the Darling Downs, after it was revealed Tarong in the South Burnett would be one of two sites earmarked in Queensland.

Tarong, which is currently home to a coal-fired power station, is just 10km from the Toowoomba region’s northernmost town in Yarraman.

Tarong Power Station. (PHOTO: Katherine Morris)

The plan has the support of federal Groom MP Garth Hamilton, who framed it as a long-term answer to Australia’s energy pricing issues amid a cost-of-living crisis.

But local environmental groups have slammed the proposal, calling nuclear power a problematic fuel source due to its waste and impacts while also questioning its cost against renewables.

The first reactors have been slated for completion by as early as 2035 but it is unclear when the Tarong site would be online.

Mr McDonald said the idea was purely “hypothetical” at this point, as there was no legislation on any level of government to assess it against.

Mayor Geoff McDonald during a council meeting to discuss the future of Toowoomba City Aerodrome (also know as Toowoomba Airport), Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“It would be highly unlikely that local government would be tasked with the assessment, processing and/or deciding applications for major infrastructure proposals of this scale and interest,” he said.

“Generally, proposals for major infrastructure facilities are assessed against explicit legislation written specifically to deal with the facility (like the impacts, processes, assessment, and consultation etc).

“That legislation is yet to be written (so) it’s all rather hypothetical at this stage.”

Mr McDonald’s counterpart in the South Burnett Kathy Duff was far more enthusiastic in her view, saying she was “pleased” her region was in consideration for a reactor.

“A lot of the community is very upset with the rollout of renewables,” she said.

“Over 60 per cent of surveyed residents think it’s an option worth considering.

“We need to consider jobs, we need to consider potential growth and opportunities with nuclear.”

Traditional owners hammer nuclear plan

Indigenous leaders from the area around the planned Tarong nuclear site say the Coalition’s initiative is a threat to groundwater and culturally significant sites.

Boujiebara/Dungibara elder Aunty Jannine Smith said the proposal would place a “massive burden” on the South Burnett’s water supply.

“I live on Country in Kumbia (20 minutes from Tarong) which has no potable water supply,” she said in comments provided by the Queensland Conservation Council.

“This project would cause a massive burden on an already struggling catchment and for what?

“Renewables are cheaper and more sustainable, I protested for land rights and against

nuclear power in the 1970s and my position has not changed.”

Fellow traditional owner Peta May said the Tarong Power Station already had a chequered history with denying indigenous people access to cultural sites in the area, arguing its conversion to nuclear would continue this issue.

“In my experience Tarong already has very little respect for the rights of traditional owners to access culturally-significant sites,” she said.

“There are Boujiebara axe-grinding grooves within the boundary of Tarong my family have been repeatedly denied access to.

“An expansion or redevelopment to nuclear would only extend Tarong’s lease on this land, denying access for another century or more.”

Originally published as Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald ambivalent about Coalition’s nuclear plan for South Burnett