`Thaggi on nuclear power short-list

South Gippsland Sentinel Times
Tuesday 7/11/2006, Page: 1

Wonthaggi has been short-listed as one of five potential sites for a nuclear power station in Victoria.

By Anna Erbrederis

Wonthaggi was named along with the Latrobe Valley, Avalon, Hastings, and Portland, in a secret report to the Federal Government compiled by nuclear experts. Dr Martin Sevior, a nuclear specialist at Melbourne University, believes Wonthaggi would be an ideal location.

"Criteria for possible locations include access to shipping, access to water, low population density, and access to high voltage transmission lines." Dr Sevior said. "Wonthaggi is very close to the sea, so sea water could be used for cooling at a plant.

"It also has access to shipping, enabling fuel to be moved in, and waste taken out." Dr Sevior said that Wonthaggi's low population density also made it an attractive site. "It is much easier to move a smaller number of people than a larger population in the event of any problems at a station," he said.

"As Wonthaggi has a low population density in comparison to Melbourne and other state centres, it would be simpler to administer an evacuation." Another decisive factor in location scouting is proximity to high voltage transmission lines. "It costs a lot to build these, and Wonthaggi is quite close the Latrobe Valley and to Melbourne. so I guess that's why South Gippsland makes sense," Dr Sevior stated.

The associate professor believes there would be a number of advantages in housing a nuclear power station at Wonthaggi.

"It would be a major employer for the town, with very well-paid positions," he said. "Nuclear power stations don't have to have a big visual impact on the town, they can hide on the other side of a hill." Dr Sevior said that he would support Wonthaggi as a promising location.

"For these types of projects, it is integral to have local interest and backing." he said. "I would only support Wonthaggi as a site if locals thought it was in their interest."

Broadbent not happy

While Dr Sevior painted a positive nuclear picture, Federal Member for McMillan, Russell Broadbent, was less than impressed to have his electorate pinned on the bullseye.

"Not while I'm the Member for McMillan," Mr Broadbent said last week. "South Gippsland is not the place for a nuclear power station, nor is it the place for an industrial wind farm. "It's a pristine environmental area." These comments were made in the face of a statement from Federal Resources Minister Ian Macfarlane last week, claiming that nuclear power would be competitive within 15 years.

Mr Broadbent said that while the South Gippsland area was certainly mentioned in the report to government, he did not believe Wonthaggi was necessarily targeted. The Liberal MP stated that he was opposed to nuclear power.

"Why would we even be considering nuclear power when we have an abundance of cheap, green coal." he said. "Nuclear power is still 20 years away, but we don't want it. "Hands off South Gippsland."

Outraged

Equally outraged was Greens state candidate for Bass, Tully Fletcher. "I am horrified at the idea my home town could be the site of such an illconceived venture." Mr Fletcher said.

"The Greens, and especially myself, are opposed to nuclear power. "We have no way to safely dispose of waste. "Nuclear power is not the solution to climate change, it will take far too long for nuclear energy to have any effect on carbon emissions." Mr Fletcher said that he would prefer to see the government invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency.

"We have to ask ourselves what's worse . . . wind farms, or a towering nuclear plant rotting our landscape," he said.

Shire Bass Coast Shire CEO. Allan Bawden, said he did not believe Wonthaggi was being considered as a possible location. "Council hasn't seen any reports detailing these kinds of suggestions," Mr Bawden said.

"I would be surprised if the Bass Coast was being considered as a potential site, given that we don't have the requirements that a nuclear power plant would need. "Such as access to a high voltage electrical grid and adequate water for cooling purposes." Mr Bawden also commented that he did not see nuclear power becoming viable in the near future.

"The nuclear industry has a long way to go, in terms of declaring that nuclear power is environmentally safer that other forms of power generation."