Nuclear fallout under Coalition plan could reach Mid North Coast, new report claims

In the event of a Fukushima-type disaster at a proposed nuclear plant at Liddell in the Hunter Valley, radiation could reach the outskirts of Port Macquarie, according to detailed maps released today by advocacy group Don't Nuke the Climate.

The maps show that a northerly wind from Liddell after a nuclear accident could impact areas as far north as Lake Innes.

Forster would be spared, but not Tuncurry; Seal Rocks, Smiths Lake, Blueys Beach and Laurieton would avoid the "pollution plumes and evacuation zones", but Hallidays Point, Old Bar and Harrington would not.

Wake up call

The newly released interactive maps of the Coalition’s seven proposed reactor sites across Australia serve as a wake up call for anyone living near one, according to Dr Jim Green, national nuclear campaigner with Friends of the Earth Australia and leader of the recent research project.

“A nuclear accident at one of Dutton’s seven proposed sites would cause profound disruption, dislocation and displacement to Australian communities,” Green said. “People living near the proposed sites of the reactors deserve to know the risk Dutton is imposing on them.”

Fukushima used as case study

The maps show pollution plumes based on evacuation zones recorded after the 2011 disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power station, taking into account all wind directions. 

Speaking with the National Account, Dr Green said that while nuclear disasters were rare, the impacts were “shocking”.

“...that includes a vast amount of death and disease, and also the economic costs of the Fukushima disaster were around $1 trillion, and also the vast number of people who have had to be evacuated,” he said.

“So for Fukushima,190,000 people were evacuated. For Chernobyl, it was 350,000 people. So even though these nuclear disasters are rare, we need to be prepared, and we need to think carefully about if we want to subject ourselves to those risks.”

Disaster-related deaths

Although there was only one official death caused by the Fukushima nuclear reactor disaster, nearly 20,000 died due to the tsunami and flooding, and another 2,313 were listed as "disaster-related deaths".

"The premature disaster-related deaths were mainly related to physical and mental illness brought about by having to reside in shelters and the trauma of being forced to move from care settings and homes; and delays in obtaining needed medical support because of the enormous destruction caused by the earthquake and tsunami," the pro-nuclear World Nuclear Association said. 

Serious health risks

University of Melbourne Associate Professor, Dr Tilman Ruff, who is a board member of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, warned that health risks are not just limited to nuclear accidents.

“The routine radiation releases from nuclear power plants more than double the risk of leukemia for young children living close to a nuclear reactor,” he said. “The best medicine is always prevention – preventing risk of harmful exposures by not building nuclear reactors in the first place.”

The research found that within a 30km evacuation zone of the seven potential sites in Australia were 33 hospitals and medical centres, 99 schools and 62 daycares.

The research also noted that although some levels of exposure from the Fukushima plant were low, they still led to fatal cancers and cardiovascular disease.

Almost 200,000 Australians across the country would be at risk of radiation exposure in the event of a nuclear accident.

“No information”

Green said “the Fukushima experience raises uncomfortable questions for Peter Dutton about emergency preparedness, pre-distribution of iodine tablets to reduce the number of thyroid cancers, evacuation zones, the insurance industry’s refusal to insure against nuclear accidents, and much more.”

When speaking with The National Account, Green described the safety arguments put forth by proponents of nuclear power as “asinine” and “meaningless”.

“[The World Health Organization reports] there's an increased risk of solid cancers, of thyroid cancers, breast cancers and leukemia. So we've essentially got no information from the Coalition, and what information we do have is false,” he claimed.

Member for Oxley Michael Kemp told the Mid North Coaster such modelling was "fear mongering" and said he was "hell bent on removing the legislated bans on mining and enrichment so that we can encourage big business to look at putting a proposal forward."

The Mid North Coaster has sought comment from the Member for Cowper and the Port Macquarie-Hastings Mayor.

This story has been updated with comment from Michael Kemp, Member for Oxley, who responded to the Mid North Coaster’s request for comment after publishing.

Correction: Dr Green was interviewed by the National Account's Archie Milligan. A previous version of this story misattributed.