Voters in the South Australian town of Kimba indicated they want their community to remain in consideration to host a storage facility for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste.
In a postal vote officially concluded last Wednesday, 698 residents and landholders answered this question: “Do you support a nomination for a site being progressed to Phase 2 for further consultation for a National Radioactive Low/Intermediate Level Waste Management Facility?”
The vote was 396 in favor and 294 opposed, according to the official tally by the Australian Electoral Commission. Another seven votes were rejected and one was designated informal, the Australian Industry, Innovation, and Science Department said in a press release.
The Australian government is considering two properties offered by local landowners, at Napandee and Lyndhurst.
The federal government’s minister for resources and Northern Australia, a position now held by lawmaker Matt Canavan, will determine whether the community on the Eyre Peninsula will advance to the next stage of consideration. The decision will be based on the recent vote and comments submitted during the consultation period, the department said.
The planned facility would provide permanent storage of low-level radioactive waste and temprorary storage of intermediate-level waste. The nation has about 650 cubic meters of intermediate-waste (growing by 5 cubic meters per year) and 4,250 cubic meters of low-level material (increasing by 40 cubic meters yearly), produced by nuclear medicine, research reactor operations, and other work.
Only one potential waste site has made it to Phase 2 consideration: Wallerberdina Station, also in South Australia. Phase 2 involves comprehensive technical review and further community consultation.
