Lithgow mayor SLAMS Peter Dutton’s plan for nuclear power plant in her town

A mayor whose town is rumoured to be earmarked for a nuclear power plant if Peter Dutton wins the next Federal Election, slammed that plan on Friday – despite some locals being in favour of it.

On Wednesday, Shadow Energy Minister Ted O’Brien did not deny that the central western NSW town of Lithgow was one of the sites where the Coalition plans to place a nuclear plant. 

But fired up Lithgow mayor Maree Statham has shut down speculation that her town could go nuclear if Mr Dutton becomes prime minister in an election to be held within a year. 

‘More than four decades ago, this council declared the city to be a nuclear free zone. This policy position remains in place,’ Ms Statham, an independent, said.

‘It is my intention to invite Peter Dutton to visit Lithgow and explain to this community why they should welcome a nuclear power plant in their backyard when no other community across Australia would do this.’

Lithgow mayor Maree Statham (pictured) has shut down speculation that her town could go nuclear if Peter Dutton becomes prime minister in an election to be held within a year

Ms Statham also pointed out that her district is also responsible for supplying water to Australia’s biggest city. 

‘I will suggest that he also then speak to the more than five million people in Sydney who drink water that is sourced from the catchment where he would like to place nuclear power plants,’ she said.

Another Lithgow councillor, Stephen Lesslie, told Daily Mail Australia that he opposes having a nuclear plant in the town because it would be ‘Expensive, unsafe (and there are) no waste solutions.’

But he said he does not expect much support from people in other parts of Australia for keeping Lithgow nuclear free. 

‘If this means that the power plant won’t go where they live then the rest of Australia probably won’t give a damn,’ Mr Lesslie said. 

Voters will pass judgment at a coming election in the next year on Mr Dutton’s vision for a nuclear Australia and Anthony Albanese’s government pursuing a renewable-led energy transition.

Until this week, the Coalition had been very coy about where it would put nuclear plants, but Mr O’Brien let the cat out of the bag by not denying a suggestion from radio host Ben Fordham that Lithgow was a prime target.

‘Whether it be (in Lithgow) or elsewhere in Australia, one of the things we’ve learnt along the way is communities that have experience hosting coal plants, they have high energy IQ, they get it,’ Mr O’Brien said.

‘And they understand the importance of 24/7 base load power.’

Fordham called Lithgow a ‘dying town’ that would welcome the jobs that would flow from having a nuclear power station, but the council said there are other ways to regenerate the area.

Poll

Should Australia embrace nuclear energy?

• Yes 946 votes
• No 148 votes

‘Lithgow Council calls on all levels of government and all political parties to undertake significant investment and action in places like Lithgow to grow and strengthen their economies for a time when mining and power generation will be less significant,’ it said in a statement.

But some locals say they their town needs a nuclear power station.

‘Increasingly I think we’re becoming disillusioned with the idea of renewables, particularly further out in the farming areas,’ Lithgow woman Sarah told 2GB on Thursday.

She said people in the area, which was once hugely important to Australia’s coal mining industry, have ‘energy in their DNA’.

‘They talk in megawatts and kilowatts and they’re all concerned about the stability of the (electricity) grid.’

Sarah said she is organising an information evening about nuclear power next month and that there will be ‘zealots that fight against it, but … we’re wanting people to come up and talk to us about it’.

Peter, another Lithgow local, said he was ‘absolutely’ in favour of having a nuclear power plant in the town, that he ‘couldn’t think of anything better’.

‘It’s a truly amazing place and it needs more employment. It’s the best place to put the power into the grid,’ he said.

The central west New South Wales town of Lithgow (pictured) is being tipped to be one of the first locations for a nuclear power plant if the Coalition wins the next Federal Election

Lithgow Council is opposed to it, but some locals say they their town needs a nuclear power station. A nuclear plant is pictured

‘This place needs it, it’s a great place to invest … Let Lithgow power Australia.’

A third resident, Christina, agreed, saying ‘We must have nuclear. This area is just magnificent, but it’s dying.

‘And it’s long overdue that it needs an injection because our council does nothing. Just go for it.’

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Dutton for comment.