Nuclear truck plan a 'risk' to the Illawarra

Plans to ship nuclear waste from Port Kembla will put the safety of Illawarra residents at risk, according to the Greens.The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) said spent nuclear fuel rods would be transported in the "Sydney-Illawarra region" under strict security and safety standards.Greens MP and transport spokeswoman Lee Rhiannon said that following meetings in the Illawarra late last year, Port Kembla appeared set to play a key role in transporting nuclear waste in the next four months. Her party objected to the planned shipment, highlighting the dangers of transporting the material from Lucas Heights down steep and accident-prone roads leading to Port Kembla."The Illawarra is notorious for accident black spots and truck accidents," Ms Rhiannon said."The risk of a nuclear container going up in flames is increased as a result."South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris said public safety was the top priority. The move to transport nuclear waste through the Illawarra was at odds with Wollongong City Council's position and that of the labour council - that the city remain a nuclear-free zone."If the city has taken a position, we would expect that to be respected," Mr Rorris said. ANSTO had offered to attend a briefing with the maritime union and labour council on Thursday, he said. "There is enormous public interest in this matter... so we want the meeting open to the media and interested people," Mr Rorris said. Among questions he intends to ask is why Port Kembla has been chosen, as previous shipments have been sent via Port Botany.According to Ms Rhiannon, the consignment involves 159 used-fuel elements packed into four specialised stainless steel casks, each loaded into standard 6m freight containers.Each cask will be loaded onto an individual semi-trailer and transported via an unknown route.The cargo will be escorted by NSW Police during a low-traffic time.Once at the port, the containers will be loaded onto a cargo ship designed to carry used nuclear fuel."The safety of Illawarra residents is now at risk through this covert operation to transport high-level radioactive waste through communities," Ms Rhiannon said."The route and time that this transportation will occur must be immediately released ... secrecy only allows for a sloppier approach to safety."Cunningham MP Sharon Bird confirmed that she had received correspondence from ANSTO, a Federal Government agency, stating they intended making shipments. "I don't know the routes or time frame, nor would I expect to be told," Ms Bird said."The important thing is that the view of the community be heard in the process."We need to have a discussion about this in a calm way."Throsby MP Jennie George said she was vaguely aware that there was a proposal to use Port Kembla to ship nuclear material, but was unaware of the details or what material was being suggested."However, as a community we all benefit from the use of medical nuclear isotopes," Ms George said."If it is low-level material used for medical treatment then we need to look seriously at the reason it can't be contained domestically and why it would have to be transported overseas."The most important thing is the community has the right to know the details of the plan bearing in mind there might be some security considerations as well."Ms Rhiannon believed retaining the spent fuel at Lucas Heights was the best way to eliminate risks in transportation.