DEAR News Of The Area,
ARE there secret plans for an AUKUS nuclear submarine base in Newcastle?
It would appear so, according to documents obtained under NSW Freedom of Information (“Nuclear Sub Base Secrets”, Newcastle Herald, Friday, May 8).
Apparently, Newcastle is on a short list of potential east coast bases for nuclear-powered submarines, but the Federal Government continues to obfuscate and evade proper scrutiny on the matter.
Surely the people of Newcastle and Port Stephens have a right to be consulted about such a controversial proposal?
Even an Army colonel highlighted the risks and drawbacks of such a base, including its proximity to a potentially explosive 12,000 tonnes ammonium nitrate storage facility on Kooragang Island.
In August 2020, a similar ammonium storage silo exploded violently in Port of Beirut, Lebanon, producing a 140-metre-wide crater and causing widespread destruction across nearby residential and commercial areas.
The blast and heat wave killed 220 people, injured 6,500 and left 330,000 people homeless. Hardly a suitable site for a submarine base! British experience demonstrates that we could also be affected by potential radiological pollution of marine and coastal environments and wildlife, as well as the risk of radioactivity doses to Newcastle and Port Stephens residents, emanating from nuclear submarines.
In May 2025, the UK Ministry of Defence confirmed dozens of radiological incidents between April 2024 and April 2025 at Faslane and Coulport submarine bases in Scotland, involving “actual or high potential for radioactive release to the environment” – including discharges of radioactive tritiated water vapour. Submerged submarines also present a serious navigation hazard in maritime channels and port approaches.
Between 1982 to 2015, the UK experienced 170 “interactions” between civilian vessels and nuclear subs, including net “snaggings”, collisions, near misses and at least 30 suspicious unexplained sinkings in UK waters, leading to loss of life, total loss of vessels and loss of fishing gear.
We don’t need these risky nuclear-powered submarines in our Port of Newcastle.
Regards,
Kenneth HIGGS,
Raymond Terrace.
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
