Antinuclear

Two small towns in regional South Australia have been divided for more than two years over support for a radioactive waste management facility.

The Federal Government has shortlisted three sites which could become the location for a facility that would permanently hold low-level nuclear waste and temporarily store intermediate-level waste.

Two of these sites are at Kimba, on the Eyre Peninsula, while a third is near Hawker, in the northern Flinders Ranges.

In recent visits to the two towns, Resources Minister Matt Canavan held open forums for the first time, where locals could directly ask him questions.

Senator Canavan is the minister responsible for selecting a site ……

Positives and negatives

For Kimba, concerns surround the impact a nuclear waste facility would have on international perceptions and potential damage to Kimba’s clean, green agricultural reputation.

“All of our grain is exported, we don’t have any domestic outlet,” said Peter Woolford, chairman of the group No Radioactive Waste on Agricultural Land in Kimba or South Australia.

But, for life-long farmer Trevor Cliff, the facility could help revive a dying town.

“When I started farming there was 240 farmers in the district and now we’re down to 90,” he said.

“The whole debate we’ve had amongst the community has widened its knowledge of an industry that nobody knew about.

“The young people have been able to learn about it and it could be a future direction for their careers.”

At Hawker, a former railway town in the Flinders Ranges, opponents questioned what the facility could mean for the region’s tourism.

Anti-nuclear campaigner Greg Bannon said it was the worst place for a waste facility. “It’s in a flood plain and it’s an area of active seismic activity,” Mr Bannon said.

“It’s considered to be one of the most seismically active areas in South Australia, in Australia in fact.”

But not everyone has opposed the facility.

Aboriginal elder Malcolm McKenzie said it could provide jobs for Indigenous people.

Of the $31 million package promised to the town that takes the facility, $3 million will be allocated to Indigenous education and heritage programs in Hawker. “[It’s] telling young aboriginal people, you are going to get a bit of training, get a job,” Mr McKenzie said.

Support to be determinedOn August 20, a postal ballot will begin in the two towns, where support would be determined for the facility…….

Before the ballot, a Senate inquiry into the site selection process, which includes the impact a community benefits program is having on support, will hand down its findings. …

Senator Canavan wants a site chosen by November. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-03/communities-question-minister-over-nuclear-facility-proposal/10062420