Date: 10 October 2005

Public Forum on the OPAL Reactor Operating Licence Application

The CEO of ARPANSA today announced that he would be holding a public forum about the application by ANSTO for a licence to operate the OPAL Research Reactor at Lucas Heights, Sydney.

'The format of the public forum is designed to allow organisations and people who have made major public submissions about the proposal for an operating licence to present their case in a public venue,' Dr Loy said today. 'ANSTO and relevant Government agencies will have the same opportunity'.

The forum is to be conducted by a panel of three people chaired by Dr Loy. The other panel members are:

• Dr Lars Hogberg, former Director General of the Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate; and
• Professor Jim Falk, Director of the Australian Centre for Science, Innovation and Society, University of Melbourne.

The panel will question each presenter after they have made their presentation.

Dr Hogberg and Professor Falk will provide a short report to Dr Loy evaluating the material that has been discussed in the forum. Dr Loy said that he would publish these reports on the ARPANSA website and take them into account in his decision-making on the ANSTO application.

A transcript of the proceedings will be made available on ARPANSA's website after the forum. In the meantime, the website can be accessed by members of the public to learn more about ARPANSA's assessment of the licence application.

The forum will take place on 8 and 9 December at the Sydney Masonic Centre, 66 Goulburn Street St, Sydney commencing at 9.30 am each day.

ENDS