Toowoomba nuclear debate: Residents in Yarraman, Nanango mixed on Coalition plan for reactor at Tarong Power Station

Residents living closest to the site that could become one of Queensland’s two nuclear reactors have had their say on the idea – and it’s mixed results for the Coalition.

Bill and Bryce Holmes’ properties could be just a few kilometres from Queensland’s next nuclear power station – but that isn’t necessarily an issue for the fifth-generation farmer and boilermaker.

“As long as all the standards are kept, I don’t think it would be a problem,” Bryce said.

“I’d a like a little bit more assurance about how it works and explained, (but) as far as reliable energy, it seems to be the way to go.”

The pair is among the hundreds of residents in and around Yarraman and Nanango dealing with the very real prospect of living near a nuclear reactor, which was put on the cards last week by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and the Coalition.

Yarraman Beef Producer/Graingrower/Peanut farmer Bill Holmes with son Bryce Holmes (3rd and 4th generation). A proposal by the Coalition to construct a Nuclear Power Station in the region. At the Tarong Power Station location. 21st June 2024. pic David Martinelli

Tarong Power Station in the South Burnett, which is just 10km from the Toowoomba region border, is one of seven sites across Australia earmarked for new nuclear sites by 2050.

Mr Holmes, who owns an engineering business that backs onto his father Bill’s livestock and peanut farm in Yarraman, said he wanted to see a more drawn-out transition from coal to alternative energy sources.

“Solar and wind farms, that’s all good when the wind’s blowing, but when it’s not good, when it’s not blowing for half a day (that’s an issue),” he said.

Tarong Power Station stacks. A proposal by the Coalition to construct a Nuclear Power Station in the region. At the Tarong Power Station location. 21st June 2024. pic David Martinelli

“We’ve got to change, but we don’t need to do it in such a big dramatic way. Trying to change it in a couple of years, it’s a big thing, it should be spread out over 10 years.”

The Holmes’ cautiously optimistic reaction to the news mirrors the consensus of 125 residents polled across both towns, collected by News Corp last week.

Fifty-six per cent of respondents supported including nuclear as part of Australia’s energy future, with Yarraman particularly enthusiastic about it.

However, less than half of those polled said they’d be comfortable having a nuclear reactor based in their region.

Frequent comments revolved around the advances in nuclear technology, the risk it posed to the coal industry and the potential environmental impacts once a reactor reached its end-of-life.

Nanango business owner Shaun Ward (Orchy Fresh) in Drayton Street in the Nanango township. A proposal by the Coalition to construct a Nuclear Power Station in the region. At the Tarong Power Station location. 21st June 2024. pic David Martinelli

It is unclear if the multi-billion strategy will be a vote-winner for Mr Dutton, with just 24 per cent of respondents saying the nuclear policy would make them more likely to vote for the Coalition.

A plurality of voters (44 per cent) said the nuclear initiative would make it less likely they’d support the Opposition, while 40 per cent said it had no effect at this stage.

The results reflect the polarising nature of nuclear, with respondents opposing the energy source being far more vociferous than those who supported it.