Councillors urge Wollongong Council to make Port Kembla nuclear subs base stance clear

The Port Kembla nuclear submarine proposal has split the Illawarra with tensions building for Wollongong Council to outline their stance.

A band of protesters congregated in Wollongong’s Crown Street Mall on Saturday in opposition to Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s announcement Port Kembla could be the home of a nuclear submarine base.

Members from the Wollongong Undergraduate Students‘ Association, Wollongong Socialists, Illawarra Greens, South Coast Labour Council, Southern NSW Maritime Union and refugee campaigners rallied in the mall, pushing back against the barebones proposal indicating one of Port Kembla, Newcastle or Brisbane could house the subs.

Wollongong councillor and Illawarra Greens member Mithra Cox fronted the rally and she told The Illawarra Star that people were flabbergasted that this was even being considered.

“The vibe was a little bit like I can’t believe we have to even protest this s***,” she said.

“We have all these issues in Australia and around the world and now we have to worry about nuclear submarines. We couldn’t ignore it and allow it to happen in our city.

Saturday’s rally against the proposed nuclear submarines base in Port Kembla. Picture: Supplied

“People are really annoyed about it because it’s morally wrong to kill people and that’s what these subs are for and right at this moment, when people are seeing the need for peace, what are we doing trying to militarise and create uncertainty in the region?”

Cr Cox refuted claims a submarine base would have major economic benefits for the region, adding Wollongong Council, which has been a nuclear-free zone since 1980 and adopted the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, should make its position clear.

Cr Mithra Cox spoke at Saturday’s rally. Picture: Illawarra Greens

“We have big plans for our port to be a renewable energy superpower and that will take space and resources,” she said.

“I think for us to have a position on this is very important. It looks like the government is sniffing the wind and this is an election announcement with nothing behind it.

“Nothing is particularly concrete about this plan, but it’s important people get out and show this isn’t a vote winner. It’s just a shallow election announcement and an attempt to buy votes.”

Fellow councillor Dom Figliomeni is the former CEO of the Port Kembla Port Corporation and he was more open to the prospect of a military base being built in Wollongong.

Cr Dom Figliomeni said the community should keep its mind open regarding the nuclear submarine base. Picture: Wollongong City Council

Cr Figliomeni admitted if the base was to eventuate, the council will need to be on the front foot in order for the region to benefit economically.

“At this stage the information is sketchy so it’s hard to say what the impact will be,” the independent councillor said.

“We don’t know whether it would be in the inner or outer harbour as each would have different requirements. If it’s in the outer harbour in particular, that’s where there’s deeper water and less risk, it basically means a development of that area which would be of huge significance for the community.

“We need to make sure we are there [if it comes to pass] so if it does make a positive impact we make sure that flows through to the economy.”

“Council does have a nuclear-free policy so that is something council would need to address, but equally the decision in the end will not be a council decision … it would very much be covered by legislation in relation to the defence of the country.”

Cr Figliomeni played down the risk of the Illawarra becoming a target by saying the region was already in the scope of potential enemies.

“The risks that have been identified are that we would already be a target as an industrial site,” he said.

“If we are going to have a gas terminal, a hydrogen facility and a key steelmaking facility we are already going to be a target.

“The key thing is, and hopefully it never happens, but in a time of conflict the submarines would be out in the deep ocean and not necessarily in the port so it doesn’t, in my view, increase the risk of us being a target anymore than we already are.”

Wollongong Council has been contacted for comment.