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The Commonwealth Government has announced its intentions to create a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory. Under this proposal it is not only the designated dump sites that will be subject to the radioactive waste but it is every point along the transport route, including Darwin Harbour.
Adele Pedder, Northern Marine Campaigner for the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) said “One of the most hazardous operations of the nuclear fuel chain is moving the spent nuclear fuel from one location to another. It is likely that Darwin Harbour will function as a hub for the movement of this radioactive waste.”
“Not only are the environments and people in the areas of proposed dump sites at risk from the nuclear waste, risks apply to every point along the waste transport route”.
Ms Pedder continued “The movement of nuclear waste through Darwin Harbour is of great concern to AMCS. In marine environments such as Darwin Harbour recovery of materials in the event of an accident is very problematic”
“If there is any expansion of uranium mining and processing of nuclear material in Australia, such as that proposed at Lucas Heights and Roxby Downs, it is likely that this waste will also be dumped in the NT. This in turn will increase volumes of nuclear waste moving through Darwin Harbour and thus the likelihood of accidents and spills” Ms Pedder concluded.
Media contact:
Adele Pedder 0422 108 539 |
