Renewed attacks by Australian nuclear plant protesters

By GREG ANSLEY in Canberra

Environmental groups yesterday opened another front in their resistance to plans for a new nuclear reactor in Sydney.

The reactor has been given the go-ahead despite strong opposition and criticism of an atomic treaty with Argentina, which will build the plant.

The A$320 million ($388 million) plant will replace the ageing Lucas Heights reactor, used for medical purposes including cancer treatment and research.

Green groups and the Sutherland Shire, the large Sydney local government area containing the Lucas Heights facility, last week lost a long and bitter fight against its replacement.

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency approved the construction of the new reactor by the much-criticised and financially troubled Argentinian company Invap.

Science Minister Peter McGauran said work on the project could start within days and would be completed within three years.

"This puts paid to the long and organised campaign of disinformation and outright lies told about the replacement reactor by a number of extremist groups," he said.

The reactor will be built in a 14m deep pool enclosed in a 2m concrete shield, with a huge metal net to protect the building against ramming by aircraft.

Although the agency has approved Invap's licence to build the plant, the company has to prove it can dispose of spent fuel safely.

Yesterday, Greenpeace challenged Australia's nuclear cooperation agreement with Argentina on the grounds it would cause an outcry among Australia's neighbours and major trading partners, including New Zealand.

Under the agreement, Argentina will accept spent Australian fuel rods if the French company Cogema - which at present takes them from Lucas Heights - cannot process them.

Greenpeace has already announced a legal bid to block any export of fuel rods to France, and argues that Argentina's constitution explicitly bans nuclear-waste imports.

The organisation says that Chile, a priority trading partner for Australia, would object to fuel rods going through its economic zone.



Pacific nations including New Zealand also opposed the prospect of nuclear shipments through their waters.

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon yesterday introduced an amendment to New South Wales state laws aimed at preventing waste from the new reactor being transported or stored in the state.

In an associated move, Friends of the Earth told the federal treaties committee that nuclear cooperation treaties with the Czech Republic and Hungary would allow Australian uranium to be used in ageing Soviet-era reactors considered dangerous.

nzherald.co.nz/environment