Local MP'S are calling for the Hunter to be left out of nuclear energy plans, following the recent appointment of Keith Pitt as the Resources and Water Minister.
Both Shortland MP, Pat Conroy and Newcastle MP, Sharon Claydon have expressed concern following the Ministers appointment, over the Hunter's role in the Federal Governments potential nuclear power plans.
"He (Keith Pitt) is on the record for being a very strong advocate for establishing a nuclear power industry in Australia," Pat Conroy said.
Mr Pitt recently encouraged a parliamentary inquiry into nuclear power.
The Local MP'S are calling on Scott Morrison to reveal any nuclear power plans the Federal Government has and to let locals know whether the Hunter and Central Coast will be part of a nuclear future.
Over the past 50 years, there have been 95 proposals for nuclear power stations in Australia and 42 different sites identified as possible locations for waste dumps.
"Every government study on where nuclear power plants would be placed has identified Lake Macquarie and the Hunter as ideal locations for those power stations," Pat Conroy said.
Potential nuclear power station sites have included Glenbawn Dam, Bayswater and Liddell power stations, Cessnock, Port Stephens, Newcastle, Eraring, Vales Point and Lake Munmorah power stations.
Sites for waste dumps have included Denman, Singleton and Broke.
"It very likely that we would see a power station in our community if a nuclear power program is to go ahead, that's why I'm asking people to contact their local MP's, to contact the media, to contact the Government and say there's no way," Pat Conroy said.
Nuclear power is known to emit relatively low levels of of pollution, however the costs are known to be high.
Newcastle MP, Sharon Claydon, says Mr Pitt's promotion was a 'deeply concerning appointment' and that any pursuit of nuclear power would be 'madness'.
"On any measure - be it cost, timing, energy needs, waste, environmental & health risks, and non-proliferation - nuclear power is found to be wanting," Sharon Claydon says.
"Even if we manage to sort out all of the profound issues with nuclear power, we're still left with the unavoidable reality that it's more expensive than renewables."
Pat Conroy says it would almost double the cost of electricity in Australia and says a large majority of his local constituents have been strongly opposed to the idea of a nuclear power station in the Hunter.
"Overwhelming opposition to it, firstly from an 'I don't want this anywhere near where I live' concern, and secondly it would take ten years to build a power station, and the urgent need to combat climate change means that's way too long."
