Hunter Highways: Radioactive Routes, Union Warns
• Truck representing nuclear fuel and waste will travel between port and nuclear sites • The truck will travel from the Port of Newcastle to Mt Piper outside Lithgow this Sunday • Dutton’s Nuclear Plan: Why? website outlines the real cost of Peter Dutton’s nuclear plan
SUNDAY 27 APRIL – Hunter highways would become radioactive transport corridors for tonnes of nuclear fuel and waste being trucked from ports to nuclear sites under a Dutton-led government, the Electrical Trades Union is warning.
Newcastle communities are in the dark about transport plans for radioactive material with the Coalition still refusing to provide details about the fuel and waste caused by their underpowered, overpriced nuclear energy plan.
Australia does not have the capability or regulatory framework to refine fuel or process waste, and radioactive material will be trucked between reactors and ports on highways and main roads through major population centres like Newcastle.
The World Nuclear Association states that a 1000MW reactor uses approximately 27 tonnes of uranium annually, with Mr Dutton’s planned 2000MW reactors meaning more fuel, more waste and more trucks full of radioactive material.
The Electrical Trades Union have launched a truck emblazoned with nuclear imagery to travel through the major transport routes affected by the plan.
The truck will travel from the Port of Newcastle to Dutton’s proposed nuclear reactor site outside Lithgow on Sunday 27 April and Wednesday 30 April raising voter awareness ahead of the Federal Election.
Alongside the truck, the ETU have launched a new website pointing out the serious flaws and unanswered questions surrounding Peter Dutton’s ill-thought out plan.
Peter Dutton has so far refused to answer questions on his plans for transporting the many tonnes of nuclear fuel and waste generated by his $600bn plan, and which towns and cities will be affected by radioactive material passing through.
ETU National Secretary Michael Wright said the truck would make voters aware of the many serious risks of the Coalition’s nuclear energy proposal.
“Voters in the Hunter region have a right to ask questions about where Peter Dutton’s radioactive materials will go, and whether their community will be affected,” Mr Wright said.
“However the fuel enters Australia, and however the waste exits the country, it will be driven through residential population centres to get to sites identified by Peter Dutton.
“What we do know is that a nuclear energy plan for 2045 would cost $600 billion, not produce any energy for the next 20 years, and kill energy worker’ jobs.
“While ETU members are hard at work building the energy transition, Mr Dutton is pushing a nuclear fantasy that is destroying and delaying real projects that will keep the lights on for Australians.
“With 40% of the grid already powered by renewables and batteries, Dutton’s plan would provide only four percent of our energy needs while putting thousands of jobs and the nation’s energy security at risk.
“Peter Dutton wants to keep Aussie voters in the dark, so it’s only fair we give them the chance to see what nuclear could really be costing them.”
Key Facts:
• Truck representing nuclear fuel and waste will travel between port and nuclear sites • The truck will travel from the Port of Newcastle to Mt Piper outside Lithgow this Sunday • Dutton’s Nuclear Plan: Why? website outlines the real cost of Peter Dutton’s nuclear plan