Nuclear ships at Devonport seen as risk

Press, 14 August 1980, Page 4

Nuclear ships at Devonport seen as risk

PA Wellington I The Commission for the Environment has serious reservations about nuclearpowered warships berthing at a new wharf proposed for the Devonport naval base on Auckland’s North Shore. In an environmental impact audit of the Ministry of Defence’s proposals for the wharf, it also strongly criticises the Navy for its poor relations with the Devonport community. The commission has little quarrel with the design of the new wharf, which would provide berths for at least four frigates or ships of equivalent size. It is urgentlyneeded because of the deterioration of present wharf facilities at Devonport. The wharf’s possible use by American nuclear ships during visits for joint A.N.Z.U.S. exercises was not a factor in design but the possibility has aroused the ire of Devonport residents. One, Mrs M. Hetherington, told the commission that “only madmen, would permit the berthing of nuclear warships so close to a heavily populated area when we have clear evidence of nuclear mishaps from so many sources.”

At nresent. it is not possible to berth nuclear ships at Devonport and they have berthed at Jellicoe wharf, near downtown Auckland’s industrial and commercial

area. In Its submission to the commission, the Auckland Harbour Board said the continued berthing of nuclear ships at Jellicoe Wharf was

not in its interest and urged that the new naval wharf be designed to accommodate them.

But .the commission suggests that Jellicoe Wharf is a far safer proposition for nuclear ships than Devonport, which is a predominantly residential area with hospitals, a school, and a permanent residential population.

Legal codes make it a requirement that the area within 600 metres of a nuclear ship must be able to be evacuated completely in an emergency.

But the commission says the presence of the residential population and the limited number of exit roads could make an evacuation of Devonport very difficult in the event of a nuclear reactor accident at the base. The commission notes that Devonport residents have a marked antagonism to the Navy’s past and proposed activities at the base.

It says that for some time there has been a need for the Navy to develop a closer relationship with local people and to explain better its functions and needs. '

The commission suggests that the Navy should offer an open invitation to residents to comment on and be-1 come involved in redevelopment proposals.