Your views: subs, nuclear waste and more
Today, readers comment on nuclear submarine training skills, SA nuclear waste storage and the appropriation of more free park land.
Commenting on the story: ‘Nothing to be feared’: Premier says no nuclear headaches for neighbours
Just what are the skills and education requirements for building nuclear-propelled submarines? So far as I’m aware the propulsion system is a bought-in black box, ready to run without involving any local R&D.
When I worked at a UK nuclear R&D establishment the local university offered nothing particularly relevant. Its specialisations were and still are education and physical sciences. The scientists I worked with had degrees in pure and applied physics, materials science, chemistry and chemical engineering. Certainly anyone working with nuclear material must be trained in radiation safety but this is already provided to those who handle the isotopes used in minerals processing and medical research.
Regarding trade qualifications of those who currently build nuclear subs at Barrow, the local Furness College offers only applied science and engineering. These might be relevant for working with heat exchangers, steam turbines and other stuff to be found in a thermal power station but nothing especially related to nuclear reactors.
If this project goes ahead, anyone who looks at appropriate training to work on the subs project should make sure it will allow them to work in a wide range of industries and not steer them into a nuclear cul-de-sac.
Interestingly just 50 km from Barrow, up the Cumbrian coast, is Sellafield nuclear fuel reprocessing and waste storage facility. The nearby Lakes College offers courses that are relevant not only to Sellafield but to other local industries including a metallurgical coal mine. So if the Osborne subs project ends, those with nuclear training might look for employment in a nuclear waste facility here in SA. – Alan Strickland
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There will be issues storing the AUKUS nuclear waste on Defence land, ie Woomera, as there has been no consultation with the State Voice or the proposed Constitutional Voice.
The International Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People’s specifically states: “hazardous materials” cannot be stored on Indigenous Lands as this contravenes “Self Determination”.
Think also about Maralinga. – Stefan Lewandowski
Commenting on the opinion piece: Nuclear waste not, want not
Tom Kenyon is correct. In fact we can go even further.
In the context of the nuclear submarines, those reactors when ‘finished’ for submarine purposes, will not be totally depleted, but will have (my guesstimate) 50-70% of their capacity left, and could be used to generate electricity commercially, before being consigned underground in locations where the continuing radioactive decay can enhance the natural radiation to produce geothermal power.
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What the alarmists see as a problem, I see as an opportunity for double recycling and improving our baseload power supplies. – David Inkster
I couldn’t agree more with Tom. South Australia has been fluffing around over this for decades. Geologically and politically this is probably the safest place on the planet. We would be doing the planet a favour and it would thank us for it. – Marie Good
Why stop at storage. Why don’t we refine our mined uranium and supply the world? We could manage and control a significant part of the whole uranium use cycle. Think how much that would line our coffers. – Ken Grierson
Tom Kenyon is correct. Get on with it, SA. The fearmongers peddle whilst Rome burns. Time for decisive action. Bury the waste and bury the negative nonsense. – Michael Pengilly
Commenting on the story: ‘I’m not thinking about legacies’: Malinauskas marks one year of Labor Government
Perhaps Mr Malinauskas’ biggest legacies for decades to come will be the destruction of the park lands and heritage buildings.
How many people have actually walked in the south west park land? The area where the police barracks and the horses are going is a beautiful bush land which has been extensively planted over the years by willing volunteers .
There is very little bush land left in the park lands, especially in the south west.
For those who drive past and then state it is just a dust bowl, may I suggest they get out of their cars and actually look at it properly. It is a beautiful area. – Anna Wishart
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