STAND UP TO NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP BULLIES
Kim Mavromatis No Nuclear Waste Dump Anywhere in South Australia
 The Federal Liberal Govnt Nuclear Waste Dump Process is subjecting people to intimidation, insults, threats and bullying.The Federal Liberal Govnt process has been appalling and is feeding the bad behaviour of pro nuclear waste dump bullies. The Federal Liberal Govnt nuclear waste dump process has fractured the communities in the Flinders Ranges and Kimba regions (near the proposed nuclear waste dump sites) and has encouraged intimidation, insults, threats and bullying. Why on earth would the Federal Liberal govnt want to dump nuclear waste in the Flinders Ranges, on a floodplain, in a seismically active region, bordered by natural springs, in an iconic tourism destination, or on Eyre Peninsula farmland, near Kimba and next to Lake Gilles Conservation Park????? https://www.facebook.com/groups/1314655315214929/ |
|
||||||||
Shire of Leonora deputy president says no thanks to foreign nuclear waste pitch
|
Leonora was identified as a prime candidate in WA for a dumping site similar to a facility being built in Finland, where a 2km-deep tunnel would be drilled to store bentonite clay-sealed copper cylinders full of radioactive waste.Speaking on Channel 7’s Flashpoint on Monday night, Shire of Leonora deputy president Ross Norrie said he didn’t feel there was any amount of money that could convince residents to get onboard plans for a global nuclear waste dump.
“They are offering big bucks to store it, but I think Finland and Norway are way more advanced with their storage projects,” he said. “The feeling was, no, we are not going to accept nuclear waste from offshore and currently the policy is we don’t any way.” Leonora has been touted as a local nuclear waste storage site due to the proposed Azark Project at Clover Downs Station 15km out of town. Mr Norrie said the Shire was only interested in storing waste produced locally, such as at the proposed Yeelirrie uranium mine, and from Lucas Heights in NSW. “The storage facility we are talking about is one of the safest going,” he said. “We need to be around the table because we do have Australia’s largest deposit of uranium.” Australian Nuclear Association president Robert Parker said safety would not be a concern if a global waste storage was built in the Goldfields. When they drill down into the rock and they go down 500m they check that water hasn’t moved for millions of years,” he said. “If that water has not moved, and they can verify it hasn’t, then that (nuclear waste) is going down there and it is not coming back ever. “It is a certain, sure, engineered solution to the migration of these old bits of waste through the environment.” Former Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said storing the world’s nuclear waste near Leonora would be disastrous. “The reason the industry asks for remote high isolation sites … is they know the engineered containment will leak,” he said. “How will you explain that to Aboriginal people or crew who live in these remote mining towns or remote communities that the reason you are trying to put it as far from centres of population as possible is that you know the stuff is going to leak.” Reform WA president Daniel Nikolic said economic benefits of nuclear waste storage were big. |
|
|
South Australia – the nuclear wasteland state
South Australia – the wasteland state, SEBASTIAN TOPS, PORT LINCOLN TIMES OCTOBER 17 2019 South Australia’s Nuclear Citizens’ Jury had many researched reasons to say ‘no’ to another’s (nuclear) waste.“Have Your Say” on nuclear waste dump – just a window-dressing exercise by the Australian govt
Kazzi Jai No Nuclear Waste Dump Anywhere in South Australia, 30 Oct 19, In today’s Transcontinental paper on page 4 there is a half page ad for “Have your Say on the National Radioactive Waste Management Facility”. It says…
In November and December 2019, the Australian Government will survey businesses and neighbours of the proposed sites to determine if they support hosting the National Radioactive Waste Management Facility in their community. These surveys are in addition to the Flinders Ranges Council Community Ballot (Mon 11 November to Thurs 12 December 2019).
Also, anyone can make a submission by 12 December 2019 to radioactivewaste@industry.gov.au
It then says in bold letters at the bottom “Further information, including an ‘opt-in’ process for surveys, is available at www.radioactivewaste.gov.au/have-your-say”
But alas – it only goes to https://www.industry.gov.au/strategies-for-the-future/managing-radioactive-waste page……..
So….is there something sneaky going on here??
The presumptive flip side to that is therefore The Minister has already determined everyone else will NOT be detrimentally affected & so not worth greater effort. LMFAO https://www.facebook.com/groups/1314655315214929/
Australia’s secret hazardous radioactive military leftovers
Tim Bickmore No Nuclear Waste Dump Anywhere in South Australia. 30 Oct 19, I wonder if the ‘National Maritime Collection’ is one of the DIIS 100+ sites?
The ARPANSA 2019 Annual Report states “… the engine from the Wessex has hazardous (radioactive) substances and poses a risk to staff”: & it is being removed – therefore the ‘(radioactive) substances’ would be headed for the national suppository.
What other (radioactive) military left-overs will DIIS release from hidden fields once the scapegoats have been herded?
Voting begins in Kimba as nuclear waste issues divide the community
Whatever the result, the communities on South Australia’s Eyre peninsula are split over the issue – and will be for some time, Guardian, Calla Wahlquist 27 Oct 19, After four years of speculation and three years of consultation, the small towns of Kimba and Hawker in South Australia have begun the final stage of a process that has divided neighbours and placed these otherwise forgotten communities on the national map.On 7 November, the Kimba district council will announce the result of a month-long vote on whether its residents support the construction of a nuclear waste facility at one of two proposed sites. On 11 November a similar vote will open for the Flinders Ranges council over a third proposed site at Wallerberdina.
The search for a suitable site has taken more than 30 years. If one or both of the communities vote yes, the resources minister, senator Matt Canavan, could name the final site by the end of the year.
Kimba and Hawker are only 200km apart, falling on either side of Port Augusta at the top of the Eyre peninsula. They are both in the federal electorate of Grey. The former federal member, Barry Wakelin, has drawn criticism from his ex-Liberal party colleagues for publicly criticising the proposal, citing as his chief concern the impact of community division.
“Once you divide the community, where there are really clear views one way or the other, it’s quite difficult to settle that down again,” he says.
What is proposed?
The proposed Wallerberdina site is on rangelands (used for grazing), occupying a 100 hectare slice of the 23,580ha station owned by former Liberal senator Grant Chapman, who sat on nuclear waste committees in his 28 years in parliament.
Both of the proposed sites at Kimba are on farming country, prompting a grassroots campaign against the use of agricultural land to dump nuclear waste.
All three sites were volunteered by the property owners, as part of a process that saw 28 sites nominated across Australia. The government says it is a coincidence that the three finalists are in one narrow patch of SA.
The proposed facility would provide for the disposal of low-level nuclear waste and the temporary storage — for how long it’s not clear — of intermediate-level nuclear waste.
“The facility will be able to hold Australia’s current and future intermediate-level waste until [the] establishment of a permanent facility for this material,” the taskforce says in a statement to Guardian Australia. “The permanent facility will be in a different location and of a different type.”
It says there’s about 1,771 cubic metres of intermediate-level waste and 4,975 cubic metres of low-level waste at 100 sites across Australia, including the Lucas Heights reactor, and those volumes are expected to rise incrementally over time.
There are 45 jobs promised as part of the facility and the host community will also receive $31m in federal funding, including $20m for community projects and $3m designated for Indigenous groups.
Both the Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation, covering Kimba, and the Adnyamathanha Traditional Lands Association (Atla), covering Hawker and Wallerberdina, oppose the facility.
Regina McKenzie, an Adnyamathanha traditional owner who lives on a station adjoining Wallerberdina, says federal contractors damaged a cultural women’s site while conducting their cultural heritage survey. Atla was working with the station owner to catalogue the archeological and intangible heritage before the site was volunteered for a nuclear facility, but say they have since been left out.
“The government has been talking at us, they have not been talking with us,” she says.
The Barngarla lost a federal court challenge arguing that all registered native title holders should be eligible to vote in the community ballot, whether they are local residents or not, and are appealing that decision to the full court. An attempted injunction to stop the community ballot going ahead until that appeal was heard was unsuccessful. ………
Wakelin says the decision ought to have been made without money on the table. Affected communities have already received $5.76m in funding for community projects and a further $4m was announced this month.
He says politicians are “petrified” of discussing nuclear waste, and he believes the federal government will try to get the issue resolved quickly – even if both communities vote no.
“As the minister tells us now: ‘Yeah, you can vote, but I’ll still make the decision’,” he says.
Greg Bannon, a spokesman for the Flinders Local Action Group, has been opposed to the project since Wallerberdina was named as one of six shortlisted sites in November 2015 (the site was named Barndioota at the time). He knows the area well from working as a jackeroo. It’s typically very dry but has been known to flood, and abuts the Flinders Ranges, the most seismically active area of SA.
“I thought: this cannot be the right place, it must be a mistake,” Bannon said…….https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/27/the-most-divisive-thing-two-small-towns-brace-for-a-vote-on-nuclear-waste
Just 413 people can make the decision on storage of Australia’s nuclear waste
Tim Bickmore shared a post.No Nuclear Waste Dump Anywhere in South Australia, 27 Oct 19,
Only 413 people (50%+1 of 825) could determine the location of Australia’s entire radioactive waste stockpile for the duration of an unknown potential number of centuries.
That’s democracy for ya…..
Have you posted your ballot paper back yet? As of this morning the Australian Electoral Commission advised us that they have received 569 ballot papers (69.13%). Please be aware that whilst the closing date for the ballot is Thursday the 7th November 2019 at 10am, adequate time needs to be allowed to ensure your ballot reaches Adelaide and is included in the count by the above date and time. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1314655315214929/
Farmers, traditional owners and ratepayers unite in anti-nuclear rally,
The rally began in Gladstone Square, before stopping outside Stuart MP Dan van Holst Pellekaan’s office to deliver a letter from Green’s senator Sarah Hansen Young.
Kimba resident Terry Schmucker owns a farm in Cootra, close to the proposed Napandee site on the Eyre Peninsula.
“The decision to put radioactive waste on farmland is wrong,” Mr Schmucker said.
“Farmland is valuable. If you take out as little as 160 hectares, that’s still farmland that’s gone and that’s along with the mining that’s happening, that’s along with urban sprawl, that’s a long with everything … We need to protect our farmland.”
Grains and oilseeds are Australia’s largest category of food exports, representing 24 per cent of total agricultural exports.
Strict industry guidelines make Australian growers highly competitive internationally, while also supplying high-quality products for domestic consumption……..
“We are also pretty isolated on grain marketing and we grow really good produce but the buyers don’t want to pay us a good price, so they will use any excuse to discount us. All they have got to say is that there’s radioactive waste right next to us, here’s $50 a tonne less.
“So whether it actually affects our produce is not actually the important bit, it’s all in the head for people who wind us down and bargain with us on price.”
Adnyamathanha woman Vivienne McKenzie also attended the rally, speaking on behalf of traditional owners in the Flinders Ranges.
Wallerberdina station near Barndioota in the Flinders Ranges is one of the three remaining potential sites for the National Radioactive Waste Management Facility.
The Seven Sisters songline, one of the most significant creation tracks throughout Australia, runs nearby this site.
Songlines explain the laws desert people live by, the origins of country and are a crucial element of Aboriginal culture.
“It’s a very, very important site for the women The Seven Sisters is because that is the first storyline up there in the Flinders Ranges that’s been recorded anywhere and it was tabled in the state parliament of South Australia,” Ms McKenzie said.
“Its like if you have a book and someone rips a page out, it takes away from the story that you’re given.
“It’s desecration, and we are trying to preserve those songlines for generations to come. “The Adnyamathanha people aren’t recognised in their own Country, they can’t even get a vote.” https://www.transcontinental.com.au/story/6456928/farmers-traditional-owners-and-ratepayers-unite-in-anti-nuclear-rally/
Can the Australian government impose a nuclear waste dump on South Australia?
Under section 109 of the Australian Constitution, if a state parliament and the federal Parliament pass conflicting laws on the same subject, then the federal law overrides the state law. Section 122 of the Constitution allows the federal Parliament to override a territory law at any time
|
Tim Bickmore Fight To Stop Nuclear Waste Dump In Flinders Ranges, 26 Oct 19, SA Despite this reference to the Federal Act over-riding State laws; however there may be constitutional grounds rendering the FA invalid ie State’s Rights are enshrined in the Constitution & there is no provision for, nor mention of radioactive waste or nuclear power.
This deficiency was recognised decades ago [1959] as described by former WMC ODM exec Richard Yeeles (also adviser to 2 State Premiers inc current one) to the NFCRC….
“… Pointing to ‘other aspects of the application of nuclear science which put beyond all doubt the national character of the health and safety problems to which they give rise,’ the Committee raised the scenario that ‘it would be possible for dangers to health to occur in one state which would affect another state,’ such as ‘the spread of radioactive materials following a disaster.’ It also instanced, with considerable foresight as subsequent events would confirm, that ‘disposal of radioactive waste is an important problem demanding strict control. Waste from one state may need to be stored in another.’ In conclusion, the Committee advised the Government and the Parliament that: In the interests of health and safety, complex uniform regulations, standards and conditions are necessary in relation to the construction of reactors, operation of reactors, processing of fuel elements, use of isotopes, transport of radioactive material and the technical, industrial and medical standards of persons engaged. To facilitate such arrangements, ‘any doubts would be removed by an express power with respect to nuclear energy’ to be provided for in the Australian Constitution. – Report of the Joint Committee on Constitutional Review, November 1959.The advice of the Joint Committee on Constitutional Review to amend the Australian Constitution to facilitate the development of a national nuclear industry was not taken up by the Menzies Government, or any subsequent federal administration.” p20 http://nuclearrc.sa.gov.au/…/Richard-Yeeles-19-05-2015.pdf https://www.facebook.com/groups/941313402573199/ |
|
Complications and secrecy about the Australian govt’s plans for nuclear waste dumping in the Flinders Ranges
No Nuclear Waste Dump Anywhere in South Australia, 21 Oct 19, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1314655315214929/
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE FLINDERS RANGES COUNCIL HELD IN THE QUORN COUNCIL CHAMBERS ONWEDNESDAY 16 OCTOBER 2019 COMMENCING AT 6 PM,
http://frc.sa.gov.au/…/FRC%20Special%20Minutes%20-%2016%20O…
“4.2 NRWMF Risk Assessment and SWOT
Moved Councillor Taylor, Seconded Councillor Reubenicht
That: a. pursuant to Section 90(2) of the Local Government Act 1999, the Council orders that all members of the public with the Exception of the Acting Chief Executive Officer, Acting Finance & Administration Manager and T Davies be excluded from attendance at the meeting for Agenda Item 4.2 – NRWMF Risk Assessment and SWOT Analysis;
b. the Council is satisfied that pursuant to Section 90(3)(i) of the Local Government Act 1999, the information relates to litigation that the council believes on reasonable grounds will take place, involving the council; and
c. the Council is satisfied that the principle that the Meeting be conducted in a place open to the public has been outweighed in the circumstances because of the potential litigation.
CARRIED (255/2019) Council moved into Confidence and all members of the public left the Chambers at 6:54pm”
**************************************************************************
Tim Bickmore Also…. The SWOT plan supposed to be released publicly on November 7… “Meeting moved out of Confidence and was reopened to attendance of the Public at 8:12pm
Moved Councillor Reubenicht, Seconded Councillor Anderson
That Pursuant to Section 91(7) of the Local Government Act 1999, the Council orders that the following document(s) (or part) shall be kept confidential, being document(s) (or part) relating to a matter dealt with by the Council on a confidential basis under Sections 90(2) and 90(3)(i) of the Local Government Act 1999:
• NRWMF SWOT Analysis and Risk Assessment;
• The Minutes of Special Meeting 16 October 2019; and
That the order shall operate until the Minister or his authorised representative gives consent for the information to be released either in draft or final form or 7 November 2019 whichever
is the sooner.
Kazzi Jai Omg! So…..if you use the SWOT – even though it is financed by the Feds – it is in contravention of our State Legislation and so the Council is open to liability? Is that correct?
The Feds ALWAYS THOUGHT that they have this one in the bag with respect to SWOT – that’s why they were happy to finance it but set the ballot date anyway!
Arrogant &%$#%&s
-
Kazzi Jai Can’t a copy get “accidentally released”? Just like ScoMo’s talking points email?
Or get the Feds to release it – since they said this is an “open and transparent process” supposedly??Noel Wauchope I don’t really understand what this is all about, but methinks that perhaps the nuclear lobby’s waste dump plans just got a tad more complicated?Kazzi Jai, It will be IF the Feds don’t step in and release the SWOT results!
Kazzi Jai The Councils will RUE THE DAY they EVER had anything to do with this whole sorry process!! The Bribe Money should have been the BIG Warning Light!
Federal govt trying to con Australians that a national nuclear waste dump is a “local” not a NATIONAL ISSUE
|
Blank Cheque For A Bad Plan: Canberra’s Nuclear Waste Problem Council Is South Australia’s Nightmare, https://newmatilda.com/2019/10/18/blank-cheque-for-a-bad-plan-canberras-nuclear-waste-problem-council-is-south-australias-nightmare/
By Dave Sweeney on October 18, 2019 The process for establishing a national nuclear waste repository in remote South Australia is deeply flawed on numerous fronts, writes Dave Sweeney.
At the request of federal Resources Minister Matt Canavan, the Kimba District Council in regional South Australia recently posted letters to registered Council voters asking if they supported the area becoming home to Australia’s radioactive waste. In November the Flinders Ranges Council is set to do the same. Local communities should certainly have a say in decisions with direct impacts for them – and hosting radioactive waste that lasts 10,000 years is certainly a direct impact. But to make an informed decision a community needs access to detailed and accurate information and, unacceptably, this is missing. Estimates of the facility size, design, economics and employment have shifted and remain uncertain. There is little or no detail about waste acceptance criteria, transport and handling procedures or future plans for the management of the most contaminating waste. Minister Canavan refuses to define what level of community response would constitute “broad community support”.The community is effectively being asked to give a blanket approval to a concept, not measured consideration of a specific proposal. And not all the local community is invited or involved. Barngarla people have been excluded from the ballot even though they are Native Title holders who neighbour the proposed Kimba site. In the Flinders many in the Adnyamathanha community are set to miss having a say, while others with long standing interests don’t meet the arbitrary ballot boundary and will not have a vote. Successive governments’ approach to radioactive waste management over many years has been divisive and lacked the evidence base required to achieve community consensus and a lasting solution. The current plan would see low-level waste interred at the site while the more problematic intermediate level wastes would be stored above ground pending future underground disposal at a separate site.There is no clear proposal, process, funding or timeline for this pivotal next stage. This unnecessary double handling of waste that needs to be isolated for up to 10,000 years is not consistent with international best practice. There is a real risk this waste will become stranded in a place with far fewer institutional assets to manage it than those sites where it is housed now. At present most of Australia’s radioactive waste is stored at two secured Commonwealth facilities – Lucas Heights in NSW and Woomera in SA. There is no compelling radiological or public health rationale for prematurely advancing the selection of a new site, especially one based on the current sub-optimal process. The Lucas Heights facility has the capacity to continue to store the most problematic intermediate level waste for many years. ARPANSA, the federal nuclear regulator, has clearly stated there is no urgent need to re-locate this material.Radioactive waste management is a complex issue, but it need not be an intractable one. And regardless of the complexity, politics should not be given priority over sound process. Trust, transparency and evidence are essential preconditions to achieving a credible and lasting radioactive waste management solution. All are sadly lacking in the federal government’s approach. Many civil society stakeholders, including national environment, public health, trade union and Aboriginal groups, support a public and independent assessment of the full range of radioactive waste management options in Australia. This would include, but not be solely restricted to, the government’s preferred remote or regional central facility model. This waste problem was not created by the people of Kimba or Hawker, nor is it their sole responsibility to solve. The federal approach has been to shrink the space for a discussion about this waste and to seek to turn a needed national debate into a local infrastructure opportunity and bidding war. This approach has been deeply divisive. It has failed to consider other options or address existing deficiencies. It has not given a voice to people in the wider communities of the Eyre Peninsula, the Flinders Ranges or South Australia. The current plan also neglects the interests of the tens of thousands of Australians who live along potential transport corridors. This exclusion is even more galling considering that what Canberra is proposing is in direct conflict with existing South Australian law. The waste plan is unpopular, unnecessary and unlawful. Securely managing radioactive waste is a complex and costly challenge. Giving Canberra a blank cheque for a bad plan is simply not a good idea for any of us – now or for the future. |
|
South Australia: ballot on nuclear waste dump: Labor reaffirms anti-nuclear policy
Dave Sweeney, 19 Oct 19, Things are getting pointy around the federal radioactive waste plan in SA.
A community ballot (which does not include Native Title holders) is currently underway in the Kimba region with a comparable initiative due to start next month in the Flinders Ranges.
There are high levels of community concern and contest and continuing legal and procedural challenges in both the Federal Court and the Australian Human Rights Commission.
Also below is the common sense position adopted by SA Labor at its recent state convention in Adelaide on October 12.
No Nuclear Waste Dump in South Australia
State Convention acknowledges that radioactive waste management continues to be a complex policy challenge that requires the highest level of transparency and evidence and that the current federal approach to site a national waste facility in regional South Australia is strongly contested.
- Supports Traditional Owners and community members in the Flinders Ranges and Kimba regions of South Australia in their current struggle to prevent a nuclear waste facility being constructed in their region.
- Acknowledge that Native Title holders in both affected regions in SA have taken legal and procedural action against their non-inclusion in the federal governments’ community ballot
- Calls for full transparency, broad public input and best practice technical and consultative standards during the current site nomination and selection process.
- Expresses concern at the federal government’s continuing focus on finding a single remote site for radioactive waste to be disposed (low level) and stored (intermediate level) to the exclusion of all other waste management options.
- Reaffirms its support for the civil society call for the extended interim storage of federal wastes at federal sites pending a broad independent inquiry that examines all options for future responsible radioactive waste, transport and storage and management
- Commits to support communities opposing the nomination of their lands or region for a dump site, and any workers who refuse to facilitate the construction and operation or transport and handling of radioactive waste material destined for any contested facility or sites including South Australian Port communities.
- Commits to defend the SA Nuclear Waste Facility (Prohibition) Act 2000
- Oppose the double handling of the intermediate level waste, currently produced and stored at Lucas Heights
- Note federal Labor’s national conference commitment to ‘responsible radioactive waste management’
Environment groups are working to support the affected communities and advance the circuit breaker of extended interim storage at existing federal sites and a management options review.
Few permitted to vote on nuclear waste dump
Barb Walker shared a post Flinders Local Action Group– 17 Oct 19
Only the residents living within the small Council areas of Kimba and Flinders Ranges have been given to opportunity to vote for or against the establishment of a Nuclear Waste Dump in South Australia. This proposal is driven by the Federal Government which, under the Radioactive Waste Management Act, have the power to override all State laws. SA Premier Steven Marshall has stated that he will back the dump if there is ‘Broad Community Support’.
If you have been denied a vote, or disagree with what is happening,
let someone know how you feel.
Please go to : https://www.foe.org.au/have_your_say
A new bribe given on the eve of Kimba and Wallerberdina nuclear waste dump ballot
Peter RemtaOctober 15 No Nuclear Waste Dump Anywhere in South Australia
Suddenly on the eve of the ballot another $4 million is given to the communities – is this incredible or Just plain vote buying?
Public excluded from Delloitt Risk Assessment report for the radioactive waste repositary
Tim Bickmore No Nuclear Waste Dump Anywhere in South Australia, 17 Oct 19At the Flinders Ranges District Council meeting last night, the public were excluded when the Delloitt Risk Assessment report for the radioactive suppository was tabled ~ implied ‘commercial in-confidence’ reasoning ~ so details yet to be released….
Will that info be provided to punters before the Poll? https://www.facebook.com/groups/1314655315214929/
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 