Antinuclear

Shire of Leonora, Western Australia, enthusiastic for nuclear waste dump

WA shire wants nuclear waste facility despite Federal Government knockback, ABC News 17 Dec 15 By Rhiannon Shine A shire in Western Australia’s Goldfields is determined to host a radioactive waste facility, despite being knocked back by the Federal Government last month.

The shire of Leonora was disappointed it did not make the Government’s shortlist for a proposed low-level radioactive waste facility.

The town, about 260 kilometres north of Kalgoorlie, east of Perth, was one of two local governments from the Goldfields region to express interest in hosting the facility.

But this week the council voted to engage a geological consultant to search for suitable nuclear waste sites in the area.

Chief executive Jim Epis said it was a long-term investment.

“I’m talking about maybe five, 10, or even 20 years away,” Mr Epis said.

“We are going to have quite a few uranium mines around our neck of the woods and we think it’s fair that someone in the area should be responsible for taking the waste back.

“We’re going to head off now and look into the future, and see if we can identify these sites where we can take nuclear waste from anywhere in Australia.”

Councillors voted unanimously to spend about $13,000 on the services of Al Maynard and Associates geological consultants.

Mr Epis said the geologists would likely focus on areas in the northern part of the shire.

“A lot of that land up there is in granite, which is ideal for nuclear waste deposits,” he said.

Council braces for opposition from locals

Mr Epis said he expected the decision would be met with some opposition.

“Over the last 10 years the Leonora community has had plenty of opportunity to discuss nuclear mining with a number of different companies,” he said.

“There [are] those out there that are totally against the idea.

“It just creates healthy debate.”……..http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-17/wa-town-determined-to-secure-radioactive-waste-despite-knockback/7037398

December 18, 2015 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | wastes, Western Australia