Why the Opposition's nuclear plan is raising questions about water   :(
Peter Dutton's nuclear plan is raising questions from within his own party about the water supply for the plants he plans to build.

18 April 2025
SBS News.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton unveiled details of his proposed nuclear energy plan in June 2024.

Conflicting signals from inside the Coalition are again raising questions about the lack of detail in its nuclear energy plans.

In mid-2024, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton announced that if elected, he would create seven nuclear power plants across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia, pledging that it would lead to cheaper energy.

The proposal has faced broad criticism from climate scientists who say it is costly and unrealistic. But this week, a senior Coalition frontbencher who represents one of the potential nuclear sites also queried whether there was enough water available to build and run it.


Why is water a concern?
Nuclear power plants require vast amounts of water for cooling and safe operation, which has raised concerns given that Australia is a country grappling with water scarcity.   :(

In Wednesday's election debate, Dutton said that "they are already water allocations to each of the seven sites that have been located" when asked about the issue.

"We've looked at the water allocations for each of those sites ... We're comfortable with the analysis that we've done," Dutton told the ABC, before referring to modelling the Coalition commissioned last year on its nuclear plan from Frontier Economics, even though the work did not tackle the question of water.



But just hours before the debate, Darren Chester, the member for the Victorian coastal seat of Gippsland, which is one of the suggested nuclear sites, told ABC radio that it will take more than two years to determine the water supply availability.   :(

He said that a "full site characterisation study based on facts not opinions" has to be done to see if there is enough water to sustain the site.

"The experts in the field would be required to report on all seven sites around issues surrounding water and seismology."


Peter Dutton has revealed the Coalition's 'game-changing' plan to cut energy costs

This month, a report commissioned by Liberals Against Nuclear — a grassroots group comprising Liberal Party supporters who oppose the Coalition's plan — found that 90 per cent of the proposed nuclear power generation is either already water-constrained or very likely to be from 2040 to 2120.   :(

"The water footprint of proposed inland nuclear power needs to be much more prominent in current debates," the report stated.
'We'll work to find consensus'
Dutton has continued to frame nuclear power as the only feasible and proven technology capable of firming up renewable energy sources, but he's continued to receive some pushback from within his party.

Last year, Queensland's Liberal Premier David Crisafulli said he would oppose plans to build two nuclear plants in his state, and that he did not support lifting Australia's moratorium on nuclear power, which bans the construction and operation of nuclear power plants under federal law.

In response to a question in Wednesday's leaders' debate about state opposition to his plan, Dutton said that, if necessary, he would "exercise" Commonwealth powers — a tool which allows the federal government to override state laws in certain situations.

“We’ll work to find consensus. If we can’t find consensus, then we’ll do what’s in our country’s best interests.”

whiteknight wrote on Apr 19^th, 2025 at 1:28pm:

Nuclear power plants require vast amounts of water for cooling and safe operation, which has raised concerns given that Australia is a country grappling with water scarcity.

Which technology? ::)

"Water recycling and reuse are increasingly recognized as essential for sustainable water management in NPPs. Internal closed-loop systems recycle water within the facility, decreasing reliance on external water supplies and minimizing effluent release. Progress in water reclamation technologies, including membrane filtration, reverse osmosis, and ion exchange, allows NPPs to treat and reuse water efficiently, improving water use efficiency (Foglia et al., 2023)."

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0029549324008574

I really believe that Australia should have a mix of energy resources.environmental, coal, nuclear and importantly gas.

We should not restrict ourselves to one energy source.

It’s all privatised anyway so the market will decide in the end.

Why shouldn’t people be given a choice in a free market?

The amount of people that are being allowed move here will degrade the Australian environment  ten times worse than any type of power generation production chosen.

And look at it globally, if we meet our Paris agreement that would not even offset the damage China increase every year!

Daves2017 wrote on Apr 19^th, 2025 at 5:57pm:

It’s all privatised anyway so the market will decide in the end.

Not while the government tries to pick winners like renewables. ::)

lee wrote on Apr 19^th, 2025 at 7:36pm:

Daves2017 wrote on Apr 19th, 2025 at 5:57pm: It’s all privatised anyway so the market will decide in the end. Not while the government tries to pick winners like renewables. ::)

Or funds it for billions with our money!
Plus the endless advertising to promote what will ultimately be a privatised company asset to milk profits out of us.

What a amazing time we live in!

Not only does every taxpayer in Australia have to pay for the building costs we also then will be charge more by the private enterprise put in place to sell the product that they didn’t pay a dollar for!

It’s great to be alive and watching this country go backwards every day while government ministers and mates get filthy rich.

whiteknight wrote on Apr 19^th, 2025 at 1:28pm:

Why the Opposition's nuclear plan is raising questions about water   :( Peter Dutton's nuclear plan is raising questions from within his own party about the water supply for the plants he plans to build. 18 April 2025 SBS News. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton unveiled details of his proposed nuclear energy plan in June 2024. Conflicting signals from inside the Coalition are again raising questions about the lack of detail in its nuclear energy plans. In mid-2024, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton announced that if elected, he would create seven nuclear power plants across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia, pledging that it would lead to cheaper energy. The proposal has faced broad criticism from climate scientists who say it is costly and unrealistic. But this week, a senior Coalition frontbencher who represents one of the potential nuclear sites also queried whether there was enough water available to build and run it. Why is water a concern? Nuclear power plants require vast amounts of water for cooling and safe operation, which has raised concerns given that Australia is a country grappling with water scarcity.   :( In Wednesday's election debate, Dutton said that "they are already water allocations to each of the seven sites that have been located" when asked about the issue. "We've looked at the water allocations for each of those sites ... We're comfortable with the analysis that we've done," Dutton told the ABC, before referring to modelling the Coalition commissioned last year on its nuclear plan from Frontier Economics, even though the work did not tackle the question of water. But just hours before the debate, Darren Chester, the member for the Victorian coastal seat of Gippsland, which is one of the suggested nuclear sites, told ABC radio that it will take more than two years to determine the water supply availability.   :( He said that a "full site characterisation study based on facts not opinions" has to be done to see if there is enough water to sustain the site. "The experts in the field would be required to report on all seven sites around issues surrounding water and seismology." Peter Dutton has revealed the Coalition's 'game-changing' plan to cut energy costs This month, a report commissioned by Liberals Against Nuclear — a grassroots group comprising Liberal Party supporters who oppose the Coalition's plan — found that 90 per cent of the proposed nuclear power generation is either already water-constrained or very likely to be from 2040 to 2120.   :( "The water footprint of proposed inland nuclear power needs to be much more prominent in current debates," the report stated. 'We'll work to find consensus' Dutton has continued to frame nuclear power as the only feasible and proven technology capable of firming up renewable energy sources, but he's continued to receive some pushback from within his party. Last year, Queensland's Liberal Premier David Crisafulli said he would oppose plans to build two nuclear plants in his state, and that he did not support lifting Australia's moratorium on nuclear power, which bans the construction and operation of nuclear power plants under federal law. In response to a question in Wednesday's leaders' debate about state opposition to his plan, Dutton said that, if necessary, he would "exercise" Commonwealth powers — a tool which allows the federal government to override state laws in certain situations. “We’ll work to find consensus. If we can’t find consensus, then we’ll do what’s in our country’s best interests.”

;D Most are in areas where there are already coal fired power plants - the water and infrastructure is already there.

More Labor scaremongering bs.

And David Crisafulli will want to look out & read the room because if he goes down the non nuclear path & keeps closing coal fired power stations he might find he'll be a one term Premier like Campbell Newman.

An allocation of water from an existing flowing source is one thing - it is another to be able to guarantee it during time of extended drought.

These 'allocations' are bought through auction.. an allegedly competitive process supposed to guarantee income to government to improve and ensure water supply etc... but Nature has its own ways -= the Deus Ex Machina here is Nature...

The best laid canals of mice and men gang aft agley.. the best laid plans to 'harvest' Snowy melt in spring gang aft agley as well..