Published on the 11th February 2016 by ANSTO Staff
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) yesterday welcomed four Mayors, four council CEOs and several staff from the Upper Spencer Gulf region to its Lucas Heights campus.
ANSTO is the home of Australia’s nuclear expertise, and produces nuclear medicine that will provide one in every two Australians with a diagnosis or treatment at some point during their lifetime.
ANSTO is also at the centre of cutting-edge environment and water research, minerals analysis to assist the mining industry, and irradiation of silicon used in everything from hybrid cars to solar farms.
The tour was taken by council representatives who are interested in getting the facts on Australia’s nuclear industry and capabilities, the safety mechanisms in place and opportunities presented.
Port Augusta Mayor, Sam Johnson, Port Pirie Mayor, John Rohde, Whyalla Acting Mayor, Tom Antonio, and Flinders Ranges Council Mayor, Peter Slattery were amongst the South Australian delegation.
Together with their respective council CEOs and staff, they saw a range of the state-of-the-art nuclear infrastructure at ANSTO. The VIP tour included:
• A trip to the OPAL Research Reactor observation room – where you can see the Australia’s only nuclear reactor, and the control room from where it is monitored;
• The Centre for Accelerator Science - a new and expanding facility where cutting edge environmental research is undertaken;
• Construction underway of the $168.8 million ANSTO Nuclear Medicine project, which when finished will see Australia significantly increase its nuclear medicine production; and
• Current waste stores for low and intermediate level radioactive waste, which are safely managed by-products of the reactor operations.
“This was a great opportunity to show off some of the best and safest nuclear infrastructure in the world,” said ANSTO’s Head of Nuclear Services, Hef Griffiths, who conducted the tour.
“We got to not just say – but show how Australia’s small but significant nuclear industry makes a positive contribution to people’s health, to their environment, and to their economy.
“Some 15,000 people come to ANSTO every year to see our science infrastructure in action and learn about the benefits it enables – but it is fair to say that these representatives got the VIP tour.
“In addition to Australia’s state-of-the-art nuclear research reactor, they also got to see and stand next to the low and intermediate level waste - the by-products of our important nuclear program.
“This material is safe and secure, and will remain here until the establishment of a National Radioactive Waste Management Facility, which is currently being sited by the Commonwealth Government.
“The Mayors, CEOs and staff were all very interested and asked fantastic, sensible and detailed questions, and we would like to thank them for taking the opportunity to come and see our site for themselves.”