The Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (DISER has announced the formation of a new Australian Radioactive Waste Agency (ARWA) as the next step towards developing Australia’s radioactive waste management capabilities.
In a statement, the Department said the ARWA would act as the authority on radioactive waste in Australia and work with waste producers, industry, the community, and Government Agencies to best manage radioactive waste.
“The Agency currently sits within our Department, and will later become a non‑corporate Commonwealth entity based in Adelaide,” DISER said.
“From this month the ARWA will lead the process to deliver Australia’s National Radioactive Waste Management Facility (NRWMF) near Kimba, South Australia.”
It said this facility would be purpose-built to safely dispose of Australia’s low-level waste and temporarily store intermediate-level waste.
“ARWA will also lead a separate process to site a facility to permanently dispose of Australia’s intermediate-level waste,” it said.
“This will likely be a deep geological facility in a different location.”
The Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia, Keith Pitt said a single Agency ensured a dedicated focus on managing Australia’s radioactive waste in accordance with domestic and international regulations and best practice.
“The fact it is independent of existing waste holders will give assurance, particularly noting its role in developing and enforcing the future waste acceptance criteria for material proposed for the site,” Mr Pitt said.
South Australian Minister for Energy and Mining, Dan van Holst Pellekaan welcomed the establishment of the Agency.
“The South Australian Government has consistently said one best practice national facility is appropriate for the storage of this medical and research waste and Kimba has clearly expressed its willingness to be the host community,” Mr van Holst Pellekaan said.
