Update 23 December 2021: We’ve updated this news story to show how we ran public consultation on the nominated site at Napandee. We’ve also included the Minister’s declaration of the Napandee site as the location for the facility.
Update 12 June 2021: We’ve updated this news story to summarise the ways we invited the community to have their say on a site from 1 August 2018 to 19 December 2019.
Update 1 February 2020: The community ballots, public submission and business and neighbour surveys are now closed. The government has identified Napandee, near Kimba in South Australia, as the preferred site to host the facility.
How we consulted
The Australian Government is committed to delivering the National Radioactive Waste Management Facility on a site volunteered by the owner alongside a community that broadly supports hosting it.
We sought community sentiment through:
- community ballots
- public submissions
- business and neighbour surveys
- ongoing engagement and discussion.
Who participated
We invited community members to participate in any or all of the consultation methods relevant to them, as:
- a neighbour to a nominated site
- a local business owner or operator
- a resident
- an organisation or individual outside the communities near the nominated sites.
We encouraged Traditional Owners to provide input through the public submission process and via ongoing consultation with Indigenous corporations, particularly through the work of our Indigenous Engagement team.
How people accessed information
Community members informed their views by:
- reading background information on this website, on our archived site, or in our department’s community offices
- speaking with an expert visiting local communities or a local Community Liaison Officer
- calling the taskforce’s contact centre on 1800 682 704
- calling the Australian Radioactive Waste hotline on 13 28 46
- discussing the nominated site proposal with friends, family, and the broader community.
See all the printed materials we provided to communities during consultation.
How people had their say
A range of options allowed community members to have their say on the facility.
Public submissions: 1 August 2018 to 12 December 2019
- Conducted by: National Radioactive Waste Management Facility Taskforce.
- Eligibility: any person or organisation.
- Submissions: received in writing to our department. See published submissions on our Consultation hub.
- Privacy and publication: private or public determined by consent.
Kimba community ballot: 3 October to 7 November 2019
- Conducted by: District Council of Kimba and the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).
- Eligibility: residents in the District Council of Kimba Local Government Area. Eligible voters were able to cast a postal vote in the Kimba community ballot.
- Privacy and publication: voting results released by the AEC.
Flinders Ranges community ballot: 11 November to 12 December 2019
- Conducted by: Flinders Ranges Council and the AEC.
- Eligibility: residents in a 50 kilometre radius of the nominated site. Eligible voters were able to cast a postal vote in the Flinders Ranges community ballot.
- Privacy and publication: voting results released by the AEC.
Business survey: 27 November to 19 December 2019
- Conducted by: ORIMA Research.
- Eligibility: a business with an active Australian Business Number on 1 October 2019 that was listed on the Australian Business Register. See the Business Sentiment Survey Guidelines [364KB PDF] [65KB DOCX].
- Privacy and publication: de-identified and aggregated data, any publication subject to privacy laws.
Neighbour survey: 13 December to 19 December 2019
- Conducted by: ORIMA Research.
- Eligibility: people who own property or live in a 5 kilometre radius to the Lyndhurst, Napandee, or Wallerberdina Station sites. See the Neighbour Sentiment Survey Guidelines [298KB PDF] [64KB DOCX].
- Privacy and publication: de-identified and aggregated data, any publication subject to privacy laws.
Public consultation on the nominated site: 11 August to 22 October 2021
- Conducted by: Australian Radioactive Waste Agency
- Eligibility: any person with a right or interest in the nominated land at Napandee was invited to make a submission in response to notices issued by the Minister.
- Submissions: received through our Consultation hub or in writing to our department or Minister Pitt’s office.
- Privacy and publication: private or public determined by consent.
How we managed privacy
- Ballot participation was anonymous.
- Responses to the business and neighbour surveys were de-identified.
- Public submissions could be anonymous. We only made them public with consent.
How we considered people’s views
A range of factors were taken into account when acquiring land at Napandee for the facility. These included:
- whether the local community was broadly supportive
- relevant site-specific technical considerations.
We considered community support by drawing on the public ballots, submissions, and surveys.
The AEC conducted, scrutinised, and counted the community ballots. ORIMA research independently analysed submissions and survey results.
Read about the Minister’s declaration of Napandee as the site for the facility.
Read more
- Read how we’re managing radioactive waste
- Read about the site selection process
- See all our reports and assessments of the sites
Connect with us
- Subscribe to our newsletter
- Join us on Facebook for project updates and community events
Contact us
- Email radioactivewaste@industry.gov.au
- Phone 13 28 46
- Write to us at: Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources; National Radioactive Waste Section, GPO Box 2013, Canberra ACT 2601
See also
View more news about the facility