Antinuclear

Australia’s high-risk earthquake zones identified

9 News, By Richard Wood • Senior Journalist Jan 31, 2025

In a update on Australia’s high-risk earthquake zones, one of the two areas includes Victoria’s Latrobe Valley, flagged as the site of a potential nuclear reactor by the Coalition.

Geoscience Australia this month released its National Seismic Hazard Assessment, which pinpointed the Latrobe Valley and Darwin as the two places in the country with a “higher risk of strong ground shaking”.

The new assessment – the first in five years – was based on new data and information from people who have felt an earthquake.

In a update on Australia’s high-risk earthquake zones, one of the two areas includes Victoria’s Latrobe Valley, flagged as the site of a potential nuclear reactor by the Coalition.

Geoscience Australia this month released its National Seismic Hazard Assessment, which pinpointed the Latrobe Valley and Darwin as the two places in the country with a “higher risk of strong ground shaking”.

The new assessment – the first in five years – was based on new data and information from people who have felt an earthquake……………………………………………………

Allen says data from recent seismic activity in Victoria and the Banda Sea, north of Darwin, had been analysed by Geoscience Australia.

“The recent earthquake activity in Victoria’s high country tells us a lot about the potential risk for future earthquakes in the region,” he said.

“We now know the level of risk in Darwin is higher than previously understood, because we have a much better understanding of how earthquakes in the Banda Sea – which are felt quite strongly in the area – affect the hazard.”

One of the seven sites across Australia earmarked to house nuclear power stations if the Coalition wins power at this year’s election, includes the Loy Yang Power Station – a coal-fired power station in the Latrobe Valley………………………………………………………………..

The policy announced by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton last year has left many local residents concerned.

They and anti-nuclear campaigners point to the impact from the 2021 Woods Point earthquake, about 180km north-east of Melbourne.

The 5.9 magnitude quake was the largest in Victoria and damaged buildings in the epicentre of Mansfield………………………  https://www.9news.com.au/national/latrobe-valley-and-darwin-high-risk-earthquake-zones/6f660af3-00d8-4b6f-9d58-8198df9204c6

February 1, 2025 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized