Some politicians propose replacing coal-fired power stations with nuclear reactors.
Even the pro-nuclear group Nuclear for Australia concedes nuclear reactors use at least 1.2 times more water than comparable coal-fired power, and the proposed reactors are much larger than existing coal plants, meaning water use could more than double.
Some suggest desalination plants to supply water for nuclear reactors, but this requires seawater, and nearly all the proposed reactor sites are a long way inland.
Desalination is also extremely costly.
As a core principle, Farmers for Climate Action stands for protecting regional water supplies and does not support making water scarcer or more expensive for farmers.
– Natalie Collard,
CEO of Farmers for Climate Action
