The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) has issued a licence to the Australian Submarine Agency to prepare a site for nuclear waste storage at the HMAS Stirling Navy Base, Garden Island, Rockingham, Western Australia.
Mia Pepper, Campaign Director at the Conservation Council of WA and the Co-Convenor of Nuclear Free WA, said today:
“It is devastating that the Federal Government has just approved storage of nuclear waste at Garden Island in one of the most pristine and diverse environments in the Perth region.
“This plan for both nuclear submarines and nuclear waste storage will inevitably impact access to parts of Cockburn Sound and Garden Island.
“The consultation documents provided no details about the volume of waste or how long it would be stored at the island. They also made confused and misleading claims about the types of low level waste that would be accepted.
“The level of secrecy and lack of public information for the waste storage plan has set the tone we can expect from AUKUS and nuclear-powered submarines at HMAS Stirling.
“This proposal is the thin edge of the wedge for nuclear waste in WA and leaves the door open to Australia taking US and UK high level nuclear waste.”
Please also find attached the Conservation Council of WA’s submission to ARPANSA “on the notice of intention to make a decision on a facility licence application to authorise the preparation of a site for a prescribed radiation facility, to be located at HMAS Stirling on Garden Island, Western Australia.”
There were 165 public submissions in total.
ENDS
CONTACT: For any enquiries relating to this release please contact 0412 272 570 or by email on [email protected]
MEDIA INFORMATION: The Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) is the state’s foremost non-profit, non-government conservation organisation representing nearly 100 environmental organisations across Western Australia.
For more information, visit: ccwa.org.au.