Nuclear power should be considered for Melbourne as it heads towards a population of eight million, a lobby group has proposed.
The Committee for Melbourne, comprising the city’s business leaders, educational institutions and other organisations, also says the city may need a second desalination plant to cope with the burgeoning numbers.
In a report to be published today, the committee says existing transport, power, water and communications infrastructure planning, won’t cope with a population of eight million.
“Although some infrastructure forward planning may be adequate for a population of five million, there are significant challenges and likely shortfalls across all categories for a population well beyond this number,” the report, Melbourne Beyond 5 Million, says.
Although there is an abundance of brown coal capable of generating power in Victoria for hundreds of years, the success of clean coal technology to limit greenhouse emissions “is not assured”, the report says.
“The alternative of nuclear power is gaining significant attention elsewhere in the world and it would be prudent to ensure that this alternative is given serious consideration.
“Developments in fourth-generation reactors promise significantly lower waste generation and higher degrees of safety. The political issues are considerable and there would be significant planning and other practical issues associated with adopting any level of nuclear power generation for Victoria.”
