Nuclear power on Surf Coast “incomprehensible”, says Greens MP

GREENS MP and former City of Greater Geelong councillor Sarah Mansfield has pushed back against Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s support for nuclear power at old mine sites, saying it would be “incomprehensible” to build a reactor at the former Anglesea mine.

During a visit to Ocean Grove last week, Mr Dutton said he wanted a “mature discussion” about nuclear energy in Australia, and touted the benefits of small modular reactor (SMR) technology as a viable solution to decarbonising the economy.

Alcoa’s Anglesea coal mine and power station supplied power to the former Point Henry smelter and closed in August 2015.

Asked if a nuclear reactor would be a hard sell for people in Geelong, the Bellarine and the Surf Coast, Mr Dutton replied: “Well, is there a coal mine that’s operating here at the moment that’s coming to end of life?”

“Well, where we’re talking about – as you’re seeing in Wyoming, as you’re seeing in parts of Europe and parts of the United States – it’s zero-emissions technology,” Mr Dutton said.

“I’d just encourage people to Google it and have a look at the SMRs, have a look at the technology that’s being deployed now.

“It’s the same technology the government’s signed up to on the nuclear submarines, and it provides a firming up of renewables, it can be done in a safe way, and it means that those coal-fired generation assets that are coming to an end of life… that they’re being replaced with a new technology that can distribute on to existing poles and wires.”

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

Ms Mansfield, who became a Member for Western Victoria at the 2022 state election, said in a letter to this newspaper that she was “deeply concerned” by Mr Dutton’s comments.

“His arguments promote dangerous misinformation about nuclear technology.

“Moreover, the suggestion that these reactors could be placed at old mine sites (such as the Anglesea Alcoa site) is incomprehensible.”

She said nuclear power was not safe, clean, or renewable.

“The health risks associated with uranium mining and nuclear reactors are well established. Imagine the devastation to our beautiful coast and communities if there was a nuclear accident? Then the waste – where will it go? Australia already struggles to deal with medical industry nuclear waste.

“And to claim it is zero emissions is simply wrong. No energy source is completely emissions-free when you consider whole of life emissions (e.g. transport, materials, construction) – and nuclear produces far greater emissions than renewables like solar and wind.

“It’s hard to believe the Coalition is serious about this proposal. They know that coal and gas are on the way out, but they’re blocking renewables and have come up with a nuclear fantasy that no reasonable economist or energy expert is willing to back.”

Labor has rubbished the Coalition’s proposal, with Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen saying modelling from his department found replacing Australia’s coal-fired power stations with SMRs would cost $387 billion.