UPDATE
The Lucas Heights campus of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation is providing support to emergency services as they continue their efforts to contain bushfires in the west of Sutherland Shire.
ANSTO has opened the ANSTO café to all RFS and emergency service workers and is providing access to water and other facilities to support emergency operations.
The motel at Lucas Heights is also offering accommodation for emergency workers.
An ANSTO spokesman said the organisation works closely with emergency services and the Rural Fire Service has advised there is no current risk to the nuclear facility as a result of fires near the Lucas Heights campus.
“Plans and arrangements are in place to ensure there is no risk to operations or safety. The OPAL reactor is operating normally,” the spokesman said.
“Staff are working hard to ensure continuation of nuclear medicine supplies, at this stage producing and distributing nuclear medicines as per normal.
“The advice from the RFS is that the bushfire is still in our vicinity and back burning operations are being planned, and in addition, road closures continue to be experienced near the campus.”
Some 1,200 people work at the Lucas Heights campus and ANSTO has made the decision to tell all non-essential staff to work from home on Tuesday to minimise allow the smooth flow of emergency vehicles .
“To minimise road and traffic impacts, all ANSTO staff not performing essential services are advised to work from home tomorrow (Tuesday),” the spokesman said.
ANSTO has also announced that the KU childcare centre will be closed today and tomorrow, and the school holiday workshops and tours planned for today and tomorrow have also been cancelled.
EARLIER
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) at Lucas Heights will be closed on Monday to all non-essential staff.
ANSTO released a statement late today saying there was no risk to ANSTO as a result of fires near the precinct but the organisation decided to help minimise traffic impacts in the area.
“ANSTO infrastructure including the OPAL reactor is protected by numerous fire safety systems, policies, plans and arrangements to ensure there is never any risk to operations or safety,” the statement said.
“The OPAL reactor is at power and operating normally.
“Some 1,200 people work at the Lucas Heights campus. Based on current advice, and to minimise local road and traffic impacts, we have advised ANSTO staff who are not performing essential services to work from home.
“All contractors, tenants and construction workers on our building projects are advised not to attend our campus tomorrow; and the childcare centre has been closed.
“As a precautionary measure, the ANSTO Operations Centre was activated yesterday, and continues to monitor the situation.
“ANSTO would like to take the opportunity to thank the emergency services and support staff who are continuing to assist on this matter.”
