Mayor disappointed with nuclear waste dump decision

UPDATE: Goondiwindi mayor Graeme Scheu is disappointed with news that Oman Ama is no longer being considered a site for a radioactive waste facility.

UPDATE: Goondiwindi mayor Graeme Scheu is disappointed with the decision Oman Ama is no longer being considered a site for a radioactive waste facility.

Cr Scheu had been keeping an open mind about the issue.

"In the end it's the Minister's choice and I understand South Australia had higher overall community support," he said.

"I'm not sure why the original process has been changed. The way I understood it is, two or three of the current sites would be chosen and a decision would be worked out from there.

"We didn't get to that stage. There was no detailed plan or proposal so we didn't get a chance to work through anything or to have my many questions answered.

"The community will definitely be divided on the decision.

"There are so many people who were looking forward to the project and see it as a massive opportunity missed, while I know others were totally against it."

BREAKING: Oman Ama has been spared as the site for a radioactive waste dump.

In a surprise pre-election move, Federal Resources Minister Josh Frydenberg will announce today that South Australia's Barndioota has been pinpointed for the dump ahead of five other voluntarily nominated sites.

Mr Frydenberg emphasised that the short-listing was not a final decision to put the national facility at Barndioota, 35km northwest of Hawker, but it now represents the only option.

Opposition leader Lawrence Springborg said he thanked the Federal LNP government for its consultation and respect.

"In relation to the consideration of Omanama as a possible site, Minister Frydenberg constantly reassured me that broad community support was the most critical element before any decision could be made to locate a facility in the area," he said. 

"I therefore had complete confidence in relaying that commitment to my local community.

"Whilst there was significant support within sections of the local community for the facility, it clearly did not meet the critical requirement of broad community acceptance.

"I know there will be many local people either disappointed or happy with this decision.

"Regardless of peoples' personal views, it is important that those different local opinions be respected in response to this announcement."

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Friends of the Earth Brisbane applauds the Federal Government decision to drop five sites from its list of sites nominated to house national nuclear waste.

The organisation now calls on the government to remove the final site, Barndioota station, from consideration and to drop the flawed site selection process immediately.

Friends of the Earth Brisbane spokesperson Robin Taubenfeld said Queenslanders can feel both a sigh of relief and a tinge of sadness from this announcement.

"The community at Inglewood showed determined opposition to the project, to which they were given a mere 120 days to respond.  It is wonderful that their voices have been heard."

"However, this fight is not over. The process which made this project wrong for Queensland, makes it wrong for South Australia as well."

"We will stand with people in South Australia in saying no to this unacceptable proposal."

Originally published as Mayor disappointed with nuclear waste dump decision