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A low to intermediate level nuclear waste repository should be established near the South Australian Outback town of Leigh Creek – destined to become a virtual ghost town within years after the closure last week on Alinta Energy’s nearby coal mine – to throw it an immediate lifeline and guarantee its survival, one of SA’s most influential industry lobby groups said today.
In a further boon for the struggling region, it could double as a facility for other forms of industrial and domestic waste that lend themselves to modern waste conversion (to energy and fuels) technologies, the Civil Contractors Federation (SA Branch) believes.
The call follows the closure of Alinta Energy’s Leigh Creek coal mine which culminated in hundreds of workers – many of whom live in the remote town with their families – losing their jobs.
“If Leigh Creek is to continue to survive – like it has done for the past 80 years – decisions need to be made, and made fast,” Civil Contractors Federation (SA Branch), Chief Executive Officer, Mr Phil Sutherland said today.
“From our perspective, it’s a no brainer – the town is relatively close to all three SA sites identified by the Federal Government as potential sites for a low to intermediate level nuclear waste facility, the closet being Barndioota, along the Leigh Creek railway to Port Augusta
“All the SA Government needs to do is simply show some mettle and bite the bullet to give Leigh Creek a purpose before the township transitions into a ghost town.
“Such a decision may pre-empt the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission, but the plight of this iconic Outback SA town and region calls for immediate government intervention.”
Mr Sutherland said the former Leigh Creek coal fields – located about 560km north of Adelaide – would meet the geological, technical, economic, and social and environmental benchmarks required for such a facility.
Further, from a logistics point of view, the town and surrounding region is ideal, with the necessary north-south and east-west road and rail and other infrastructure already in place.
He said a “less controversial” industrial and commercial waste to energy (or fuels) conversion processes could also be established at the Leigh Creek coalfields, which would significantly reduce the amount of waste needed to be buried – instead allowing the waste to be used to generate power, and produce fuels and other products.
“South Australian already has the unenviable reputation of having the worst unemployment in the country – we can’t let it get any worse,” Mr Sutherland said.
“We today call on the State Government to look very carefully at this proposal, and take action before we start to see tumble weeds blowing through this proud town,” he said.
“Of particular importance, such a facility would give Leigh Creek and its residents a reason to continue to exist.
“It would also create hundreds of new jobs – to replace the hundreds of jobs lost as a direct result of the closure of the coal mine, and the other significant allied jobs losses that will occur in the town as families pack their bags and leave the area in droves in search of other work.
“That said, we understand community concern and uncertainty about such facilities, but such waste facilities have been operating safely for many years in other parts of the world.
“Any nuclear waste facility and/or an industrial and domestic waste conversion facility established near Leigh Creek would be required to meet world’s best standard, rigorous safety and environmental standards.
“It is time for intelligent, informative debate on the topic to ensure Leigh Creek’s survival.”
