Nuclear Power Plant Announcement for Port Augusta: Mayor Linley Shine Responds

Port Augusta City Council acknowledges the inclusion of Port Augusta by the Liberal Party as a potential site for a nuclear power plant, specifically a Small Modular Reactor (SMR). Council would like to stress the importance of a comprehensive community engagement process, accompanied by detailed technical and economic assessments, in evaluating this proposal.

While the Council has not been formally contacted regarding the nuclear power plant proposal and has not yet received any information, there are a few observations that need to be addressed.

Firstly, it is important to note that the proposed site for the nuclear power plant is privately owned and has been considered for other projects, including the development of an export port. The success of these potential projects, which could greatly contribute to the economic development and prosperity of the region, may be jeopardised if the exploration of the nuclear power plant proposal casts doubt on the future use of the old power station sites.

After the rapid closure of the coal-fired Port Augusta power stations, the city experienced economic decline and environmental issues such as fly ash dust emissions. Throughout this period, there was a noticeable absence of support from both the Commonwealth and State Governments. No economic transition support was provided to the community during that challenging time.

Despite multiple project announcements for the area following the closure of the former power stations, only a few wind and solar projects have come to fruition. The community has experienced announcement fatigue and is rightfully questioning whether this nuclear power plant proposal will become a reality or just another potential project announcement.

It is crucial for the residents of Port Augusta and the wider region of South Australia to see tangible benefits from hosting renewable energy or nuclear facilities. The South Australian Government has enacted legislation that prevents local councils from receiving fair and equitable rates from the electricity generation sector, which is in contrast to other state jurisdictions within Australia. Councils must be able to raise fair income from the electricity generation and storage facilities they host in order to provide the necessary services and amenities for their communities. Therefore, the Council urges the South Australian Government to promptly address this rating anomaly that currently benefits international energy companies at the expense of regional South Australian communities.

The Port Augusta City Council eagerly awaits the provision of information regarding this announcement and looks forward to meaningful discussions at which the Council, as the leading democratic and community representative organisation, is fully integrated into the decision-making process.

For further information please contact Council’s Media and Communications Officer on (08) 8641 9100

LINLEY SHINE
MAYOR
PORT AUGUSTA CITY COUNCIL