Federal Resources Minister says he intends to declare Kimba farm as site for Australia’s nuclear waste storage facility

A farm near Kimba in SA is all but certain to host the national nuclear waste storage site, with one final step before it’s chosen.

Plans for a $325m radioactive waste storage site at Kimba are edging forward, with the Federal Resources Minister saying he intends to declare a farm as the proposed site.

But moves to set up the centre at the Eyre Peninsula town are expected to face tough opposition from many in the community – including another potential legal challenge.

Former resources minister Matt Canavan announced in February 2020 that Napandee farm near Kimba would host the storage site.

It would keep low-level waste permanently and intermediate-level waste for several decades.

The project has stalled since then, following opposition from several sides of politics, and Aboriginal and community groups, which disagreed with the process.

In June, legislation paving the way for the project passed parliament, adding a major hurdle – Resources Minister Keith Pitt’s decision would be open to judicial review.

An artist's impression of the possible radioactive waste site at Napandee, near Kimba. Picture: Supplied

’Napandee’ at Kimba, the property chosen to become the new National Radioactive Waste Management Facility. Picture Matt Turner

The plans for Kimba have divided the community, with supporters welcoming increased employment opportunities, and opponents worried about potential environmental problems. They have raised worries that the project will ruin the farming sector’s clean, green, image.

Mr Pitt on Wednesday said he had considered assessments of technical suitability and community sentiment before issuing notice of his intention to declare Napandee as the chosen site.

“This is the next step in progressing this nationally significant infrastructure project, which successive governments have been working on for more than 40 years,” he said.

Two sites are proposed for a nuclear waste dump near Kimba, on the Eyre Peninsula with another site in the Flinders Ranges being ruled out.

In 2019, a Kimba Council ballot found 62 per cent of respondents supported hosting the nuclear waste near their town.

Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation unsuccessfully argued in court that the process was discriminatory because it did not include native title owners who did not live in the area.

Mr Pitt said after more consultation, he would decide whether to proceed with declaring the Napandee site.

The Australian Radioactive Waste Agency (ARWA) would then develop detailed applications to regulators.

A spokesperson for the Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation said the organisation would seek a judicial review if the site was declared.

Kimba Mayor Dean Johnson on Wednesday said the process had been very long but “today is a significant step forward”.

Opponents have raised particular worries about keeping intermediate-level waste at Kimba without a longer term plan for its storage, labelling it unnecessary double-handling.

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Originally published as Federal Resources Minister says he intends to declare Kimba farm as site for Australia’s nuclear waste storage facility