Following a more than 40-year search to deliver a storage facility for waste largely associated with nuclear medicine production, Parliament has passed important supporting legislation.
The National Radioactive Waste Management Amendment (Site Specification, Community Fund and Other Measures) Bill 2020 passed with bipartisan support and means a National Radioactive Waste Management Facility can be progressed in the national interest, and the nearby community that hosts it will be well supported.
This critical national infrastructure will be for the disposal of Australia’s low level radioactive waste and temporary storage of intermediate level waste, currently spread over more than 100 locations.
Resources Minister Keith Pitt said for more than 40 years, successive Australian Governments had sought a site for a facility to store Australian radioactive waste found in hospitals, universities and science facilities.
“More than 80% of Australia’s radioactive waste stream is associated with the production and provision of nuclear medicine, which it’s likely every Australian will require during their lifetime,” he said.
The current process to identify a site for the facility commenced six years ago, and saw 28 sites nominated by landholders around Australia.
After an extensive process, which included investigations into technical suitability and community sentiment at various sites, in early 2020 the Government identified Kimba, in South Australia, as the host community.
Following the introduction of the Bill in February 2020, the Government heard the concerns of some stakeholders and has worked with the Opposition on a Bill which addresses these concerns.
The changes included reinstating the Ministerial site declaration process, which can be scrutinised under judicial review, and providing legislative recognition to the shortlisted sites, recognising that the shortlisted communities have engaged in the lengthy process in good faith.
The Minister may now issue an ‘intention to declare’ a preferred site for the facility. That would then commence the process outlined in the legislation, to acquire the site by the Australian Government for the purpose of hosting the NRWMF.
