Clarence Valley Council debates installing five nuclear-free zone signs for $41,000 at meeting

A northern NSW councillor has slammed a costly plan to install “nuclear-free” signs as “ridiculous” after she said forbidding nuclear energy as a council would be “pointless” and merely “symbolic”.

The Clarence Valley was declared a nuclear-free zone in May. Picture: Dylan Robinson

A northern NSW councillor has slammed a costly plan to install “nuclear-free zone” signs in the region as “ridiculous” after she said forbidding nuclear energy as a council would be “pointless” and merely “symbolic”.

Clarence Valley councillor Karen Toms took aim at the five signs at a meeting in which the council became embroiled in a debate over whether to fork out $41,000.

In May, the council narrowly voted to declare the whole Clarence local government area a nuclear-free zone, despite no plans flagged for nuclear-related activity, whether power or waste disposal.

Councillor Greg Clancy supported to push to declare the Clarence nuclear-free.

At the time, councillor Greg Clancy, who backed the motion, said it was “a really important issue”.

“I think the community, generally, would not want a nuclear power plant in the Clarence Valley,” he said.

“It has been talked about, it’s not just pie in the sky and now that we’ve opened up to nuclear submarines, anything is possible.”

A new motion has been put forward by the Clarence Valley Climate Change Advisory Committee for the handful of new antinuclear signs at main road entrances.

Meeting documents state the cost could be more than $40,000, with about $12,500 being spent on traffic control alone.

The move would also require council to seek Transport for NSW approval.

A nuclear power plant in Slovakia. Picture: Tomas Benedikovic.

In the latest meeting on Tuesday, Cr Clancy said he was surprised by the estimated cost.

He moved the council only add “nuclear-free zone” to signs being replaced or repaired.

“It’s a simple matter three words – nuclear-free zone,” he said.

Councillor Jeff Smith supported the proposal, but was also surprised by the estimate.

“$41,700 – that’s insane … surely we can just do something simple?” he said.

Councillor Toms said the signs were “ridiculous” and she questioned whether the “nuclear-free” declaration would include the use of nuclear medicine.

Councillor Karen Toms spoke against the motion.

Councillor William Day also expressed concerns about the gesture being tokenistic.

“I’m not gung-ho about nuclear power generation … but these signs are just total token gestures,” he said.

“I can’t image a truck driver carrying nuclear material reading these signs and stopping to call his head office to say ‘I can’t go any further, I just read a sign. I’m not allowed across the Clarence Valley’.”

Council voted not to add “nuclear free zone” to entrance signs, with only councillors Clancy and Smith backing the motion.