Radioactive waste warning
EXCLUSIVE: 7News can reveal serious new warnings about radioactive waste, which the New South Wales Government wants to dump in western Sydney.
Tests have found the contaminated soil, buried near the Harbour, would need radiation monitoring for 300 years, if it's sent to Kemps Creek.
It's been nearly a century since uranium ore was processed at Hunters Hill, and under empty homes remain hot spots of radioactive waste, headed for western Sydney.
Penrith Councillor Prue Car says locals do not want the waste moved into the area, and they will fight the State Government every step of the way.
Nuclear scientists tested the Hunters Hill site, finding that radioactive material was detected at varying concentrations across the area.
Another report shows monitoring would need to be implemented at the disposal site for at least 300 years.
The state’s Shadow Environment Minister Luke Foley says the waste will need to be monitored up until the 24th century.
“That tells us how dangerous this material is," Foley says.
Scientists also found that the hot spots are relatively small in area so when you consider the total volume of soil the collective site meets the requirements of the Restricted Solid Waste classification.
The Shadow Environment Minister says this means that the findings have been diluted in order to send it to the one
Experts say laws should be changed to send the waste to Lucas Heights.
"We're not just dealing with a standard contaminated site. we're dealing with a site that does have radioactive waste and that requires a different approach," Monash University’s Gavin Mudd says.
Despite warnings, finance minister Greg Pearce last month told parliament none of the waste was hazardous, and that all of it is expected to go to Kemps Creek.
