Australia to Put Reactor on Fault Line
The Australian government has approved the building of a research reactor on an existing nuclear site in suburban Sydney, even though it lies on two seismic fault lines. The country's nuclear safety body, Ansto, reported yesterday that the fault lines posed no risks. The last serious...
The Australian government has approved the building of a research reactor on an existing nuclear site in suburban Sydney, even though it lies on two seismic fault lines.
The country's nuclear safety body, Ansto, reported yesterday that the fault lines posed no risks. The last serious earth movements occurred between 5m and 13m years ago.
Opponents of the scheme said they would continue their campaign because no proper plans for dealing with the waste material were in place and the reactor would pose a risk to the surrounding community.
A court ruling on a Greenpeace application to stop work on the project is expected tomorrow.
The reactor, which will produce nuclear material for scientific and medical research, not power, is intended to replace the existing reactor at Lucas Heights by 2005. It will be Australia's only reactor. At a cost of A$320m (£114m), it is said to be the most expensive scientific project in Australian history.
The country's nuclear safety body, Ansto, reported yesterday that the fault lines posed no risks. The last serious earth movements occurred between 5m and 13m years ago.
Opponents of the scheme said they would continue their campaign because no proper plans for dealing with the waste material were in place and the reactor would pose a risk to the surrounding community.
A court ruling on a Greenpeace application to stop work on the project is expected tomorrow.
The reactor, which will produce nuclear material for scientific and medical research, not power, is intended to replace the existing reactor at Lucas Heights by 2005. It will be Australia's only reactor. At a cost of A$320m (£114m), it is said to be the most expensive scientific project in Australian history.
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