Another batch of reprocessed radioactive waste to be shipped from UK to ANSTO at Lucas Heights

The "intermediate level radioactive waste", consisting of 114 spent fuel rods from the old HIFAR reactor, was sent to the UK in 1996.

The first batch of reprocessed waste was brought back in 2015 and, subject to regulatory approval, the remainder will be shipped in 2022 and kept in ANSTO's interim waste store until a national repository is established.

An ANSTO statement said the waste would be in four cannisters placed inside a 102-tonne TN-81 transport and storage cask.

The cask will be 6.5 metres long, three metres in diameter and with 20 centimetre thick walls made from forged steel.

"The container is so heavily shielded you can stand next to it with no detectable traces of radiation above normal background levels, and no special personal protective equipment," the statement said.

More than five years of planning went into the 2015 shipment, which was shipped to Port Kembla and trucked to Lucas Heights in a one kilometre convoy, arriving at 1.30am.

The police Public Order and Riot Squad escorted the convoy, which included spare prime movers, tow trucks, fire engines, ambulances and other police vehicles.

The only incident was when two deer jumped out of the bush in front of the lead vehicle as the convoy passed through Royal National Park.

The deer scurried off into the darkness.

The ANSTO statement on next year's shipment said between 75-80 per cent of radioactive waste produced at the facility was directly associated with production of nuclear medicine "which every Australian is likely to need at some point in their lifetime".

"Nuclear medicine is used in the diagnosis of a variety of heart, lung and muscular skeletal conditions, as well as diagnosis and treatment of certain types of cancer," the statement said.

"A variety of low and intermediate level radioactive wastes are created as a result of Australia's nuclear operations, which are managed safely with different levels of shielding and protection.

"Fuel rods that power reactors require additional reprocessing ahead of safe storage.

"While Australia's nuclear program is significant, it is comparatively small, and therefore we have not developed our own spent fuel reprocessing capability, instead relying on facilities and partners overseas.

"Overseas the uranium is recycled, and the remainder goes through a 'vitrification' process: breaking it up, solidifying it in molten glass and placing that in 500kg steel cannisters."

ANSTO's Group Executive Nuclear Precinct, Pamela Naidoo-Ameglio, said it would be "a routine and safe operation".

"This will be the second repatriation project and twelfth successful transport of spent fuel or reprocessed waste which ANSTO has carried out since 1963," she said.

"For all of the obvious and standard security reasons, we can't comment on the specific route or timing of this transport, but wanted to let our community know ahead of the license applications."

"In addition to the forthcoming application to the nuclear regulator, ANSTO will also submit a referral under the EPBC Act, which will include a standard 10-day public submissions process."

ANSTO's Chief Nuclear Officer, Hef Griffiths, said, ""For decades, Australians have benefited from nuclear medicine, and environmental, industrial and minerals research undertaken at Lucas Heights".

"Those benefits include production of millions of doses of nuclear medicine, increased profitability of our mining industry, irradiation of silicon used in everything from fast trains to hybrid cars, and a base of knowledge that secures Australia's position in international nuclear non-proliferation talks.

"Along with these benefits comes a responsibility for Australia to safely deal with the by-products including radioactive waste.

"Australia does not shy away from that responsibility, and ANSTO has comprehensive plans to safely manage it."