BY PETER HYSLOP
The Federal Opposition says the site of the former Liddell Power Station is still key to its nuclear plan despite recent earthquakes and operator AGL's refusal to cooperate.
Yesterday, Muswellbrook residents felt a 3.1 magnitude tremor following larger quakes in August, raising concerns the site may not be appropriate to host a nuclear power plant.
It comes as Liddell owner AGL refuses to accommodate the Coalition's plans, and hopes to build a 500 megawatt battery instead.
Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie says despite the concerns, a nuclear reactor could still be built.
"It's not a binary choice, you can still have a battery on the site of a nuclear power plant.
"Building nuclear plants on the site of old coal plants is still the best option because all the infrastructure is already there.
"The nuclear power plants that are built these days are built to withstand earthquakes. They don't get built unless they do that."
Member for Hunter Dan Repacholi has shot back at the Coalition.
He says a nuclear reactor is not an appropriate solution for the Hunter.
"The earthquakes have really shown that this area is not suitable for a nuclear power station.
"Residents of the Hunter deserve cheaper power prices and nuclear is not the way to go for that" he says.
It comes as Liddell owner AGL refuses to accommodate the Coalition's plans, as it hopes to build a 500 megawatt battery instead.
A concept design of a zero emissions small modular reactor the Coalition has put forward.
