The Cronulla branch of the NSW Liberal Party has proposed scrapping the Illawarra Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) and replacing it with small-modular nuclear reactors in a motion tabled for the party's upcoming state conference.
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Motion 36 in the agenda for this weekend's conference calls on Federal and NSW Labor governments to remove the Illawarra REZ from future planning of renewable energy projects and "unreservedly object" to the REZ being constructed "at all" on both economic and environmental grounds.
The second part of the motion suggests that "small modular nuclear reactors should be investigated as the alternative".
Motions are adopted at the conference are suggestions and are not binding on the state Liberal party.
NSW opposition leader and member for Cronulla Mark Speakman said the NSW Liberal party's policy had not changed.
"The NSW Opposition remains committed to the implementation of the Energy Infrastructure Roadmap that we launched when in government, which includes having Illawarra and Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zones," he said.
"We remain committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, with interim targets. While other technologies could be important renewables will play the major role in achieving this.
Wollongong Labor MP Paul Scully slammed the motion, calling on local Liberals to suggest a location for a nuclear power plant.
"They have got to explain where they want these small modular nuclear reactors," he said. "Will it be Sandon Point, Flagstaff Hill, Figtree or Brownsville? These are the questions that local Liberal luminaries should be answering immediately."
The Mercury attempted to contact Illawarra Liberals about the motion, including Wollongong Liberal councillors, however none were available to comment on Thursday.
While billions of dollars of investment from governments and corporations have been directed towards small modular nuclear reactors, none have gone beyond the development stage outside of Russia and China, and pilot plants have been budgeted in the billions of dollars.
The Illawarra Renewable Energy Zone had bipartisan support when legislation to enable the zone passed through NSW Parliament in 2020.
In July 2022, a registration of interest process returned $43 billion of private investment in the Illawarra REZ, including onshore and offshore wind, solar, energy storage including batteries, pumped hydro, hydrogen production and load projects including green steel manufacturing.
Mr Scully said were the NSW Liberal motion to go ahead, it could jeopardise this avalanche of investment.
"When was the last time the Illawarra had $43 billion worth of project proposals before? It just doesn't happen. And now [NSW Liberals] want to abandon our kids' future, it's disgusting."
