A mayor whose city is reportedly earmarked for a nuclear power plant if Peter Dutton wins the next federal election rejected that plan Friday — despite some locals supporting it.
On Wednesday, Shadow Energy Minister Ted O’Brien did not deny that the central western NSW town of Lithgow was among the sites where the Coalition plans to site a nuclear power station.
But agitated Lithgow mayor Maree Statham has quashed speculation that her city could get nuclear power if Mr Dutton becomes prime minister in an election due within a year.
‘More than four decades ago, this council declared the city a nuclear weapons-free zone. This policy position remains in place,” said Ms Statham, an independent.
“It is my intention to invite Peter Dutton to visit Lithgow and explain to this community why they should welcome a nuclear power station in their backyard when no other community across Australia would do so.”
A mayor whose city is earmarked for a nuclear power plant if Peter Dutton (pictured) wins the next federal election rejected that plan on Friday – despite some locals supporting it
Lithgow Mayor Maree Statham (pictured) has dismissed speculation that her city could get nuclear power if Peter Dutton becomes Prime Minister in an election held within a year.
Ms Statham also pointed out that her district is also responsible for the water supply of Australia’s largest city.
“I will propose that he also speak to the more than five million people in Sydney who drink water from the catchment area where he wants to put nuclear power stations,” she said.
Another Lithgow councilor, Stephen Lesslie, told Daily Mail Australia he is against having a nuclear power station in the city because it would be “expensive and unsafe (and there are) no waste solutions.”
But he said he does not expect much support from people in other parts of Australia to keep Lithgow nuclear weapons free.
“If this means the power plant won’t come where they live, the rest of Australia probably won’t care,” Lesslie said.
Voters will pass judgment on Dutton’s vision for a nuclear Australia and Anthony Albanese’s government’s pursuit of a renewable-focused energy transition at the upcoming election next year.
Until this week the Coalition had been very coy about the location of nuclear power stations, but O’Brien let the cat out of the bag by not denying radio presenter Ben Fordham’s suggestion that Lithgow was a prime target.
“Whether it’s (in Lithgow) or elsewhere in Australia, one of the things we’ve learned along the way is that communities that have experience hosting coal-fired power stations have a high energy IQ and understand it,” Mr O’Brien.
“And they understand the importance of 24/7 baseload power.”
Fordham called Lithgow a ‘dying town’ that would welcome the jobs that would come from having a nuclear power station, but the council said there are other ways to regenerate the area.
“Lithgow Council calls on all levels of government and all political parties to take significant investment and action in places like Lithgow to grow and strengthen their economies at a time when mining and energy generation will be less important,” the council said in a statement .
But some locals say their city needs a nuclear power plant.
“I think we are becoming more and more disillusioned with the idea of renewables, especially further out in the agricultural areas,” Lithgow woman Sarah told 2GB on Thursday.
She said the people of the area, which was once hugely important to Australia’s mining industry, have “energy in their DNA”.
‘They talk in megawatts and kilowatts and they are all concerned about the stability of the (electricity) grid.”
Sarah said that she is organizing an information evening about nuclear energy next month and that ‘fanatics who are fighting against it, but… we want people to come forward and talk to us about it.”
Peter, another Lithgow resident, said he was ‘absolutely’ in favor of a nuclear power station in the town, saying he ‘couldn’t think of anything better’.
‘It really is a great place and it needs more employment. It is the best place to put the power on the grid,” he said.
The town of Lithgow in New South Wales’ central west (pictured) is tipped as one of the first sites for a nuclear power station if the Coalition wins the next federal election
Lithgow Council is against it, but some locals say their town needs a nuclear power station. A nuclear power plant is depicted
‘This place needs it, it’s a great place to invest… Let Lithgow power Australia.’
A third resident, Christina, agreed, saying, “We need nuclear power. This area is beautiful, but it is dying out.
‘And it has been a long time since an injection was needed, because our municipality is doing nothing. Just go for it.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Dutton for comment.