Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

South Australia’s Greens leader Mark Parnell urges a united stand against nuclear waste dump plan.

Last week, I went to Port Augusta and Hawker to meet with residents fighting against the Federal Coalition Government’s plans to build a national nuclear waste dump in South Australia.  It was great to see both the Kimba and Flinders Ranges communities working together to show that they are NOT the “willing” communities that the Government was hoping for.

This ill-conceived push by the Federal Government to dump low to intermediate level nuclear waste in regional South Australia has seen farmers, residents, business people, Traditional Owners, community campaigners and the Greens join together, united in their call for the dump to be dumped.

I was pleased to speak at the rally held in Port Augusta on 19 August, outlining the Greens’ continued opposition to the dump and highlighting the grossly mismanaged site selection process that the Federal Government has conducted and how divisive this has been to the affected South Australian communities.

I had timed my visit to the region to coincide with the ballot of local residents to gauge their views on the dump.  However, days before the ballot papers were due to be sent out, the vote at both locations was postponed following a Supreme Court injunction brought by the Barngarla people – the Traditional Owners of much of Eyre Peninsula including land in the Kimba region.

The Barngarla people successfully argued that it was potentially a matter of racial discrimination to allow property owners to vote in the ballot, but not Native Title holders.  Similar arguments apply to the Adnyamathanha people of the Finders Ranges, all of whom have strong attachments to the land, but most live outside the narrow area to be balloted. The case has now been referred to the Human Rights Commission.

Additionally, the people of Port Lincoln, Whyalla and Port Pirie are seriously concerned that they too have no opportunity to participate in the ballot.  The Greens want to see the community consultation and ballot extended to local Traditional Owners as well as those living in the proposed nuclear waste ports or along the nuclear waste transport corridor.

Everyone who is potentially impacted by this plan should be included and their voices should be heard.

To have your voice heard, make a submission to Federal Minister for Resources Senator Matt Canavan via email at radioactivewaste@industry.gov.au by 24 September.

Let’s take this stand together.

August 31, 2018 Posted by | Federal nuclear waste dump, politics, South Australia | Leave a comment

Survey shows North region of South Australia mainly opposed to nuclear waste dump

Business-SA published a regional survey today & despite widespread opposition they continue to pursue an international radioactive suppository. Like their Federal cronies, the ignorant BS credulity can only deliver divisive smokescreens of vain leadership divorced from the lives of the people they claim to provide for.
Anecdotally, some regional business owners in the Far North, members of B-SA; claim they had no knowledge of the survey prior to it’s release……
High Level Waste mentioned on pages:
p15 = 55% against overall;
p24 = Eyre Peninsular 41% anti 41% pro;
p27 = Far North including Port Augusta & Whyalla 50% pro 39% anti;
p32 = Murray/Riverland 50% anti:
p74 = Barossa 80% anti + KI 74% anti + SE 63% anti
http://business-sa.com/getmedia/35736f09-7f57-4cc7-bbff-e30bd4856077/Regional-Voice_Brochure

August 29, 2018 Posted by | Federal nuclear waste dump, politics, South Australia | Leave a comment

Kimba’s aging population will hand the disaster of a “temporary” nuclear waste dump on to their descendants

Paul Richards  Nuclear Fuel Cycle Watch South Australia, 25 Aug 18,    The long-term target [of the nuclear-waste-dump-for-Kimba campaign] is Federal legislation that affects all emerging generations.

“The Federal Government has consistently misled Kimba residents about its intentions. Residents have been repeatedly told that the above ground store for long-lived intermediate-level waste^ would hold waste for several decades until a deep underground disposal facility is available,” Mr Green saidMost of Kimba’s residents are the Silent and Baby Boomer generation so are unlikely to see a deep repository built,

Furthermore, this group will never face the outcome of our future, and this is a serious matter of choice being made for thousands of generations, by so very few.

keywords: ‘Residents’, ‘above-ground store’, repeatedly told’, ‘long-lived intermediate-level waste’, ‘several decades’.
_____________
^including spent nuclear fuel reprocessing waste

source: the advertiser news blog – Adelaide now

https://goo.gl/NFSz5b
population of Kimba: https://goo.gl/CkaRZj

47.8% are over 45
33.2% are over 55
34.3% are 24 – 44
26.9% are under 24

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1021186047913052/permalink/2088822484482731/?comment_id=2090166821014964

August 25, 2018 Posted by | Federal nuclear waste dump, South Australia | Leave a comment

Two major solar farms for Whyalla, South Australia

Steel city’s solar rush gets a head of steam  Whyalla could soon be home to two major solar farms after Adani Renewables announced it had received pre-construction approval for a 400 hectare project just outside the city. – …..(subscribers only) 

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/sa-business-journal/whyallas-adani-solar-farm-gets-preapproval-as-renewables-rush-hits-the-steel-city/news-story/09fff7a4b0e755070bdb59ef40411653

August 24, 2018 Posted by | solar, South Australia | Leave a comment

We say NO to nuclear waste dump in South Australia

We Say NO is a short film bringing together voices from South Australia and beyond presenting clear and united opposition to the Federal government’s proposal for a Radioactive Waste Management Facility in the State. “South Australia has spoken. We say NO, and we mean NO.” Regina McKenzie “Many voices bring promises of wealth, but one State, with a cohesive strong voice, says We Say NO.” Lavene Ngatokorua For more information see: http://www.nodumpalliance.org.au/

August 22, 2018 Posted by | Audiovisual, Federal nuclear waste dump, South Australia | Leave a comment

Is South Australian group Engage 2 Act a nuclear propaganda front?

South Australia has this organisation Engage 2 Act. I know little about it. Perhaps it is a genuine organisation. Perhaps you just have to offer yourself as a speaker for their functions, and no checking is done?
Anyway good old nuclear propagandist Ben Heard is right into it., and will be speaking at their function Escape 2 The Country South Australia, on November 16.

August 22, 2018 Posted by | South Australia, spinbuster | Leave a comment

Exaggerated ‘benefits’ of a radioactive waste dump for rural South Australia

The economic benefits of a radioactive waste dump proposed for rural South Australia have been exaggerated, a new report warns https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/the-economic-benefits-of-a-radioactive-waste-dump-proposed-for-rural-south-australia-have-been-exaggerated-a-new-report-warns/news-story/34bfd2eba14e0b3a9975dc861315112a Peter Jean, Senior Federal Political Reporter, The Advertiser August 20, 2018 

THE rural community which hosts a national radioactive waste dump could face higher insurance costs and the economic benefits of the project have been exaggerated, a report prepared for environmental groups suggests.

A report to be released today by Conservation Council SA warns that the federal or state governments could have to meet the cost of insuring the local community for radioactive-related accidents which wouldn’t be covered by standard insurance.

The report was prepared by the left-wing Australia Institute think tank.

While 45 jobs have been promised at a national radioactive waste management facility, the report found the actual impact on the local employment market would be limited as workers were drawn away from other regional industries.

The Federal Government has short-listed two sites near Kimba and one near Hawker as possible locations for the waste facility.

Postal votes to help determine whether the two communities would accept the waste dump have been put on hold after legal action was launched in the Supreme Court by the Barngarla indigenous people.

The Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation argues that native title holders who live outside the municipal borders of Kimba should be entitled to vote in the postal ballot.

The case is scheduled to be heard by the full court on Thursday.

The proposer facility would house low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste.

The Australia Institute report questioned the need to transfer intermediate-level waste from the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor campus in Sydney to the proposed SA facility.

August 20, 2018 Posted by | Federal nuclear waste dump, South Australia | Leave a comment

Conflict of interest: Richard Yeeles, adviser to South Australian Premier on Olympic Dam Aboriginal Trust

Tim Bickmore shared a link.No Nuclear Waste Dump Anywhere in South Australia, 15 Aug 18 

The Olympic Dam Aboriginal Trust distributes funding to 3 aboriginal groups based upon income from the mine. Those groups are: Barngarla, Kuyani (Adnymathanha) & Kokotha.
Barngarla & Kuyani are currently the groups targeted by the radioactive waste site suppository process.
According to the ODAT website, currently Richard Yeeles, senior economic adviser to State Premier Steven Marshall is listed as a BHP representative on the council which determines who gets what monies…..
Conflict of interest? https://www.facebook.com/groups/1314655315214929/?multi_permalinks=2493650837315365%2C2493518107328638&notif_id=1534298281981165&notif_t=group_activity

August 15, 2018 Posted by | Federal nuclear waste dump, politics, South Australia | Leave a comment

Peter Malinauskas, South Australia’s Labor leader says the nuclear waste selection process is wrong

Katrina Bohr No Nuclear Waste Dump Anywhere in South Australia, 12 Aug 18 

Had an extensive conversation in person with Peter Malinauskas, SA State Opposition Leader.

I shared my concerns for the people in the communities, and the process that’s been imposed on them.
He agreed that the process is wrong, and gave me his word, that the issue will be brought up in Parliament as soon as it returns.

He was shocked to hear how people’s health and lives are being affected. 
I’m holding him to his word! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1314655315214929/

August 13, 2018 Posted by | Federal nuclear waste dump, politics, South Australia | Leave a comment

Earthquakes: another good reason to not establish a nuclear waste dump in the Flinders Ranges

Lyn Blume Fight To Stop Nuclear Waste Dump In Flinders Ranges SA Here is another good reason to not dump nuclear waste in SA as this is a seismic region in Australia, here is the most recent record. Earthquake Details
NW of Blinman, SA
Summary
Origin (UTC): 06/08/2018 22:35:45 Epicentral Time: 07/08/2018 08:05:45
Longitude: 138.511 Latitude: -31.000
Magnitude: 2.4 (ML) Depth: 10 km

Event Id: ga2018pkbnhd https://earthquakes.ga.gov.au/ Blinman is a town deep in the Flinders Ranges, in the mid-north of South Australia. It is very small but has the claim of being the highest surveyed town in South Australia. It serves as a base for large acre pastoralists and tourism. The town is just north of the Flinders Ranges National Park, is 60 kilometres(km) north of Wilpena Pound and 485 km north of Adelaide. https://www.whereis.com/search-results?query=Blinman%20SA….
   https://www.facebook.com/groups/344452605899556/permalink/798296437181835/?comment_id=798549383823207&reply_comment_id=798845953793550&notif_id=1533982264730819&notif_t=group_comment

August 13, 2018 Posted by | Federal nuclear waste dump, safety, South Australia | Leave a comment

Senator Matt Canavan wants a nuclear waste site chosen by November.

Proposed nuclear waste facility has South Australian towns divided as locals prepare for ballot, ABC West Coast SA  By Samantha Jonscher and Gary-Jon Lysaght, 3 Aug 18, 

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

August 3, 2018 Posted by | Federal nuclear waste dump, South Australia | Leave a comment

Petition to South Australian Premier to block nuclear waste dump

State government urged to block nuclear facility  https://www.transcontinental.com.au/story/5562602/petition-pushes-for-nuclear-block/, Marco Balsamo 2 August 18 A petition calling on the state government to block the National Radioactive Waste Management Facility has attracted over 10,000 signatures.

The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) submitted the petition to state Member for Stuart Dan van Holst Pellekaan at a recent meeting.

While the facility is a federal government matter, the petition urges the Marshall Liberal government to “defend and uphold” the Nuclear Waste Storage Facility (Prohibition) Act 2000.

The act was established to “protect the health, safety and welfare” of South Australians by prohibiting nuclear waste storage facilities in the state.

ACF Nuclear Free Campaigner Dave Sweeney urged Premier Steven Marshall to “stand up, honour and represent the state” by opposing the national facility.

“We wanted the South Australian government to know that there’s strong support and an expectation that they will respect and reflect about the existing Waste Prohibition Act,” Mr Sweeney said.

Wallerberdina Station near Hawker is one of three nominated sites for the national facility, with the other two both based in Kimba.

The selection process is coming to the pointy end, with a postal ballot commencing on August 20 to measure the community support for the three nominated sites.

Representatives from ACF, Conservation Council SA and the Adnyamathanha community attended the meeting with Mr van Holst Pellekaan.

Mr Sweeney described the sit-down as “constructive and respectful”, giving the groups an opportunity to present their concerns to the MP.

“This is being presented by the federal government as if it’s a local economic development issue, but it is Australia’s first ever purpose-built national radioactive waste dump,” he said.

“What it would receive is materials, some of which needs to be isolated and managed for 10,000 years. It is a national responsibility that has long-lasting implications that need a national approach, so we conveyed that to Dan and he understood that.

“We also conveyed our concerns about the process, how divisive it has been and how much stress it has caused on communities.”

Mr van Holst Pellekaan said he has spoken with federal Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Matt Canavan about local concerns regarding the facility.

“As a local MP, I believe it is important to meet with many people with a wide range of views on this topic and have been doing exactly that,” he said.

“I’ve had regular contact with federal Minister Canavan, have shared the opinions of our local people with him and will continue to do so.”

Mr van Holst Pellekaan confirmed the petition has been passed on to the Premier as promised at the meeting.

August 3, 2018 Posted by | Federal nuclear waste dump, politics, South Australia | Leave a comment

In South Australia pro nuclear people have been seeded into positions of power

Regina McKenzie  Fight To Stop Nuclear Waste Dump In Flinders Ranges SA, 2 Aug 18
We went to speak to Dan vanpelican , he stated that the State Liberal Party is going to change the legislation of the prohibition act, hmmm so the Premier is going to OK this filthy dump .
Barb Walker  Federal Government have always said they will override state legislation if they have to.  Marshall is weak and he is ignoring the people who put him in as Premier. He knows South Australia has already said a clear NO to the storage of nuclear waste. He is worthless.
Anne McMenamin This is not unexpected. It brings the International Dump back onto the agenda. Those who said that this will never happen because we have protective legislation forget how easily legislation can be changed. Remember who is the Libs’ Senior Policy Director – and now look at the Head of the Dept of Premier and Cabinet.

Many of these people have strong pro-nuclear beliefs, and want to see us with nuclear power, nuclear-powered subs (remember the French subs we’re going to be building were designed for nuclear power), more uranium mining, and, of course, the international dump. If you look into the bios of many of these people, you will find that there are a series of revolving doors between the military, weapons manufacturing and/or mining industries, academia, and public service. Pro-nuclear people have been “seeded” into many positions of influence.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/344452605899556/?multi_permalinks=787166124961533

August 3, 2018 Posted by | politics, South Australia | Leave a comment

Processing of radioactive wastes at Woomera to take 5 to 10 years

Woomera’s 10,000 nuclear waste barrels have ‘low levels’ of radiation, says CSIRO, ABC News 30 July18  Ten thousand barrels of radioactive waste stored at Woomera in South Australia’s far north have no significant levels of radiation, according to the latest assessment from Australia’s leading scientific research agency.

The finding from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) comes more than two years after a report raised concerns about the possible leaking of nuclear waste at the site.

In April, 2016, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) inspected the Woomera site and reported a number of concerns surrounding many of the barrels, which hold material from tests at Melbourne’s Fisherman’s Bend dating back to the 1950s.

The Federal Government is looking to store low-level nuclear waste temporarily store intermediate level waste at one of two locations near Kimba, or one at Barndioota, near Hawker, in the Flinders Ranges……….

Woomera was a rocket testing base in the 1950s and is still a defence systems testing facility…….

Once analysed, any low or intermediate-level nuclear waste at Woomera would likely be moved to the proposed national nuclear waste management storage facility.

Movement of waste ‘a risk’   Mara Bonacci, of the Conservation Council of South Australia, said the issues with the barrels highlighted the dangers of nuclear waste storage.

“It’s a shame that after only 30 years, the 10,000 barrels have been stored there are already compromised and potentially dangerous,” Ms Bonacci said.”It doesn’t instil a great deal of confidence in Australia’s handling of radioactive waste at all, which leads to concerns about the current federal proposal for the radioactive waste management facility.

“I’m glad they’re onto it but it’s a shame that it has to happen at all and it’s going to cost the taxpayer $30 million.

Ms Bonacci said the movement of the waste to a proposed waste management storage facility at either Kimba or Hawker in South Australia was a risk.

“They want to move intermediate level waste — which is higher level waste to what is at Woomera — they want to move that from Lucas Heights … to a remote area for interim storage and then move it again.

Communities are concerned that waste will be forgotten about, that it may be compromised.

“It’s expensive, it’s double-handling and it doesn’t make sense.

“If the Woomera waste hasn’t been handled that well and it is deteriorating then it doesn’t instil confidence in the proposal to move it to a remote community.”

…….. The spokesperson for the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science  said the transport, storage and disposal of nuclear would be under strict regulations enforced by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA).

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) declined ABC requests to comment.

Remediation could take years

Dr Mallants said a study into the structural integrity of the barrels was ongoing in conjunction with experts including the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).

“We’re using very small robots and vehicles that can drive underneath the stack of drums they have cameras so they can look for leaks, we also have some robots that have the ability to measure the level of radiation under those drums.”

He said understanding the level of radiation material had in the barrels was a key next step in the remediation process……… Further initial tests in the remediation process were expected to take another 12 to 24 months, with waste processing at Woomera expected to take between five and 10 years. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-01/woomera-nuclear-waste-barrels-not-contaminated-study-finds/9994028

August 1, 2018 Posted by | Federal nuclear waste dump, South Australia | Leave a comment

Nuclear industry bigwig Jim McDowell now boss of South Australia’s public sector

JimMcDowell, most recently CEO of BAE Systems Saudi Arabia, now chair of Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation 

South Aust gets new public sector boss, 

Former BAE Systems chief executive Jim McDowell has been appointed to head up South Australia’s Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Premier Steven Marshall described Mr McDowell as a talented leader with decades of international business experience in industries critical to South Australia’s future prosperity.

“Mr McDowell is well placed to guide the South Australian public sector as we seek to take full advantage of the Commonwealth’s naval shipbuilding program and other defence contracts based in South Australia,” Mr Marshall said on Thursday.

July 27, 2018 Posted by | politics, South Australia | Leave a comment

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