NSW Documents Identify Port Kembla as Preferred Site for East Coast Nuclear Submarine Base

Previously secret New South Wales government documents have identified Port Kembla as the preferred site for an east coast nuclear submarine base. The documents, prepared by the NSW cabinet office and premier’s department, were tabled in the NSW parliament following an order to produce from Greens MLC Abigail Boyd.

Port Kembla is located 75 kilometres south of Sydney. The analysis states that the base “could be a target for Australian military adversaries” and that residents are likely to resist the proposal due to the risk of nuclear accident and the site’s potential as a military target.

The documents note that the east coast base will harbour submarines with nuclear reactors fuelled by highly enriched uranium. In the event of a military conflict the base could be targeted, leading residents to perceive it similarly to a nuclear power station as a source of environmental disaster risk.

A significant proportion of the Port

Kembla population has already expressed opposition. In September more than 40 organisations signed the Port Kembla Declaration insisting the community should not host a nuclear base because it would endanger residents. The federal government announced in March 2022 that it intended to build an east coast nuclear base as part of the Aukus agreement with the UK and US.

The submarines are scheduled to begin arriving under Australian command from 2032 and are currently planned to be stationed in South Australia and Western Australia. The NSW documents state the commonwealth had committed to a decision on the base location by the end of 2023 to be operational by 2040.

No site has been announced and speculation had focused on Brisbane, Newcastle and Port Kembla.

A preliminary cost-benefit analysis by NSW government officials identified Port Kembla as the best site. It projected an economic benefit of $426 million to the state through improved infrastructure, community services, facilities and growth in highly technical and high-paying jobs.

Port Kembla’s outer harbour presents a viable alternative as a naval base with capacity to accommodate increased berthing, a dry dock and a submarine facility. However the documents acknowledge that some residents would have to leave their homes, local businesses could be negatively affected and rail and road travel could worsen.

The base is likely to have a negative impact on the amenity of the local area with those closest to it most affected. The analysis states that residents in proximity will perceive the base as a risk to their community’s health and the local environment.

The probability of a nuclear accident is reduced because submarines are only sometimes harbouring at the base. At the same time a nuclear submarine base is more likely to be a military target and could be perceived as riskier for that reason. The documents state the east coast nuclear base is expected to be at least twice the size of the Western Sydney International Airport project.

The Department of Defence estimates more than $10 billion will be needed for facility and infrastructure requirements including the new east coast submarine base. It is expected to be operational by 2040.