The Federal Government’s announcement this week of a $168 million investment in ANSTO including a nuclear medicine facility and 250 jobs, has drawn mixed reactions.
Sutherland Shire Council welcomed the move but expressed concern that the announcement included details of waste treatment and a storage facility at Lucas Heights.
Sutherland Shire mayor Carol Provan said construction of the nuclear medicine manufacturing plant at ANSTO was a positive step forward for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and heart disease in people across the globe.
But she said: ‘‘The Sutherland Shire community wants a firm commitment from the Federal Government regarding the construction of the national waste repository. Storing nuclear waste at Lucas Heights is not the answer.’’
‘‘We’re told that the waste that comes from the new nuclear medicine manufacturing plant and exisiting waste of the same type will be treated on site at Lucas Heights and stored there until the national waste repository is built.
‘‘Yet we have been given no assurances from the Federal Government exactly when or where the repository will be built.
Sutherland Shire Environment Centre chairperson Jenni Gormley said ANSTO’s plan was concerning as it would see more nuclear waste being produced and stored in the shire.
‘‘Sutherland Shire residents will understandably be concerned about the possibility of a truly frightening pool of liquid waste sitting at Lucas Heights awaiting SYNROC encapsulation”, she said.
ANSTO general manager commercial operations Shaun Jenkinson said the new nuclear medicine manufacturing facility would significantly increase ANSTO’s capacity to make the nuclear medicine Mo-99, allowing Australia to take a leading role in supplying the world market.
‘‘We currently have a capacity to produce 1000 units a week of the nuclear medicine Mo-99,’’ Mr Jenkinson said.
‘‘The new facility will be able to make 3500 units per week.
‘‘We currently supply all the needs of the Australian market and export a small amount.
‘‘Our current processing facility comes to the end of its life in 2017.
‘‘The new facility will be on-line at the end of 2015, so the Australian market will be secured.’’
He said ANSTO currently can supply up to five per cent of the world market and will be able to increase that to 20 per cent.
‘‘In 2016 a reactor in Canada shuts down that currently has the ability to do up to 40 per cent of the world’s supply, so the timing is critical.
‘‘This means Australia can take a leading role in the world market.’’
Mr Jenkinson said the new nuclear medicine manufacturing facility will employ 100 people including 65 will be new positions.
ANSTO will also employ another 150 in the construction phase.
and in Tuesday's Leader.
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