¶ FEDERAL Opposition leader Peter Dutton today named Collie as a location for a proposed nuclear power plant.
Under the Opposition’s energy plan, Muja Power Station would host a small modular reactor, utilising existing infrastructure to integrate with the South West Interconnected System.
Mr Dutton said an exhaustive process had been conducted to identify suitable sites and claimed nuclear would be a “huge win” for local economies.
“It will mean that at end-of-life coal-fired power station sites we can utilise the existing distribution network,” Mr Dutton said.
“This is a plan for our country that will underpin a century of economic growth and jobs for these communities.”
Mr Dutton described nuclear as the “best possible pathway to meeting net-zero by 2050”, and floated the possibility the first sites could be producing electricity by 2035.
But while claiming nuclear would deliver cheaper and cleaner energy, avoiding the need for extensive new transmission infrastructure required by renewables, he would not be drawn on costs.
“The focus today is on the sites,” Mr Dutton said.
“We’ll deal with the cost in the next stage of our policy announcements.”
Federal member for O’Connor Rick Wilson said under the plan Collie would host a 200 to 300 megawatt reactor.
Mr Wilson said the reactor would have a small footprint and not require large quantities of water.
“There will be a community development plan,” Mr Wilson said.
“Part of the consultation will be how infrastructure investment in the Collie region can enhance community amenity and activity, and also attract heavy industry through direct connection to the power plant.
“There’s a lot of good news for the people of Collie which we will be rolling out over the next days, weeks and months.”
Mr Dutton said the federal and state governments would not have supported the AUKUS nuclear submarine program if they considered nuclear technology unsafe. Under the Opposition’s proposal, nuclear waste would be stored on site and at the end of an asset’s life be moved to a permanent home.
“Our argument is that that should be where the government decides the waste from the submarines be stored,” Mr Dutton said. Other sites identified are Liddell Power Station and Mount Piper Power Station in NSW, Tarong Power Station and Callide Power Station in Queensland, Loy Yang Power Station in Victoria and Northern Power Station in SA.
Mr Dutton said he expected strong support in communities like Collie, which have a high “energy IQ”.
Collie Shire president Ian Miffling said council will need to see further details before adopting a position on the issue.
“At this stage, the council is waiting for a full briefing from the Federal Liberal Party and Rick Wilson,” Cr Miffling said.
“The council will be in a better position to understand after being briefed.”