Speakers raise issues about nuclear power at a public meeting last week.WESTERNPORT residents gathered last week over their concern about nuclear power coming to the bay.
Organised by the Westernport Action Group (WAG), the public meeting in Mornington provided vital information on the potential for a nuclear power reactor in the area.
Guest speaker Jim Green of Friends of the Earth said a nuclear reactor in the area would result in compulsory land acquisitions and the inability of residents to insure against nuclear incidents.
He also gave examples of cases where the prices of properties near nuclear plants had fallen so low that the local councils had changed the names of suburbs.
Greens candidate for Flinders Bob Brown and Labor candidate for Flinders Gary March also spoke, answered questions and listened to the concerns of community members.
They, along with Greens candidate for Holt Lynette Keleher also acknowledged that nuclear power was not greenhouse friendly, and that nuclear power stations used massive amounts of water in the electricity generation process.
The meeting highlighted the attitudes and policy differences regarding nuclear power and uranium mining of the political candidates.
However, residents were disappointed that their federal members did not attend.
Australian Conservation Foundation guest speaker Mr Dave Sweeney spoke about the urgency surrounding the issues of an expansion of uranium mining and export, saying that uranium mining resulted in radioactive waste.
