Coker rejects nuclear reactor in region

CORANGAMITE Labor federal member Libby Coker has slammed suggestions a nuclear power station could be built in her electorate.

Since September last year, the Coalition has been promoting former coal-fired power station sites, such as Anglesea and the Latrobe Valley, as ideal locations for nuclear power, and will soon launch an energy policy with sites for six nuclear power stations.

Speaking on Sunrise last week, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton highlighted the potential of such sites.

“If there’s a retiring coal asset, so there’s a coal-fired generator that’s already got an existing distribution network, the wires and poles are already there to distribute the energy across the network into homes and businesses, that’s really what we’re interested in,” he said.

This statement followed Nationals leader David Littleproud’s comments after the collapse of transmission towers near Geelong in wild weather.

“If small-scale nuclear plants were built where retiring coal fired power stations are now, you could minimise the need for new transmission lines, reducing the risk of these incidents,” he said.

Alcoa has already removed more than 42km of transmission lines and 103 towers between its Anglesea and Point Henry sites.

Critics, including environmental and community groups, say nuclear power stations are very expensive, other alternatives are better, and adopting the technology could bring Australia into the global nuclear waste market, with other countries potentially sending their waste here.

Ms Coker demanded clarity on the proposed location of a nuclear reactor and its waste disposal in the Geelong area.

“Peter Dutton and the Liberals must tell us exactly where on the Surf Coast they’re planning to build this nuclear reactor and put its waste,” she said.

“Anyone who has done their homework knows nuclear is not viable.

“The alleged boom in Small Modular Reactors is a furphy.

“Renewables will bring down emissions so much faster and without the radioactive waste.”

Greens Member for Western Victoria Sarah Mansfield said the government should be focused on ensuring Australia was better placed to prevent and respond to climate disasters in the future.

“Nuclear is just a distraction being put forward by those who fundamentally don’t support renewable energy – the time and cost alone mean that nuclear isn’t a viable option.”