No waste for Oman Ama

Pre-election moves sees region spared as waste site

No waste site for Oman Ama. Picture: Contributed

OMAN Ama has been spared a radioactive waste dump.

In a surprise pre-election move, Federal Resources Minister Josh Frydenberg announced yesterday that South Australia's Barndioota had 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 north-west of Hawker, but now represented the only option.

Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg thanked the Federal Government for its consultation and respect.

"In relation to the consideration of Oman Ama 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.

"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."

Goondiwindi Mayor Graeme Scheu said he was disappointed that Oman Ama was no longer being considered as a site.

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 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 be divided on the decision.

"There are so many people who were looking forward to the project and while I know others were totally against it."

Originally published as No waste for Oman Ama