Lucas Heights: Hazard reduction burn to go ahead near Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation campus

A ‘critical’ hazard reduction burn is scheduled to go ahead near a nuclear reactor site in southern Sydney this weekend, with residents told to brace for road closures at short notice. Here’s what we know.

A “critical” hazard reduction burn will go ahead near a southern Sydney nuclear site over the weekend, with firefighters taking extra precautions to control the blaze.

The NSW Rural Fire Service Sutherland District will carry out the burn along the perimeter of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) campus at Lucas Heights on Saturday and Sunday in preparation for the bushfire season.

ANSTO is working closely with the fireys to secure the campus and perimeter lines with “stringent plans in place” to ensure there is no risk to the site, which is home to Australia’s only nuclear reactor the OPAL – Open Pool Australian Lightwater.

District manager Superintendent Martin Surrey said the burn would cover 64 hectares in the Lucas Heights buffer zone and roads in the area. New Illawarra Rd and Heathcote Rd may be impacted by the operation.

“We’ll be working with ANTSO emergency management and their internal fire service to ensure there’s no ember attack into ANSTO itself,” Supt Murrey said.

The burn will cover 64 hectares in the Lucas Heights buffer zone near the ANSTO campus.

“They will be looking after that area but we will be burning along a back road which surrounds ANSTO and it gives us a really good line between the facility and the bush line.

“It’s an uphill slope towards ANSTO and we’ll mitigate the risk of that wildfire heading up there and causing any difficulties in the facility into the future.”

When asked if the burn was one of the biggest operations of the season so far, Supt Surrey said it was “up there”.

ANSTO is working closely with the RFS to secure the campus with “stringent plans in place” to ensure there is no risk to the site. Picture Craig Greenhill

The Opal Reactor core at ANSTO Lucas Heights. Picture Craig Greenhill

“It’s purely because we haven’t had the opportunity to do any large scale hazard reductions around the Sutherland Shire and into the Illawarra,” he said.

“It’s a big burn … and it’s a very, very steep rugged terrain … so a lot of things had to come together, and the conditions are right for us to do that burn safely and confidently.”

A RFS helicopter and drones will be deployed to assist firefighters on the ground and experts from the Queensland Biodiversity Australia team have been brought down to help relocate koalas from the area.

Three koalas have already been relocated ahead of additional surveys on Friday evening and Saturday morning, however firefighters also have strategies in place in the event koalas are found during the burn.

“ANSTO and the RFS are taking every step to mitigate any risks to the local environment and wildlife populations, including koalas and Indigenous cultural sites,” an ANTSO statement read.

A team of experts have been brought in to help find and relocate koalas and other fauna from the area.

A RFS helicopter and drones will be deployed to assist firefighters on the ground. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

ANSTO confirmed its 24/7 operations and facilities will remain open and operating as normal during the hazard burn.

The RFS has warned residents it may be required to set up temporary road closures and detours at short notice for the roads surrounding the ANSTO campus.