About the project
The National Repository Project was a project undertaken by the then Australian Government between 1992 and 2004, which sought to site a national low level waste repository.
This process commenced in 1992, with the full cooperation of all state and territory governments. A preferred site near Woomera, South Australia, was selected following a full environmental assessment. However, attempts to acquire the site under the Lands Acquisition Act 1989 were defeated in the Federal Court following legal action by the South Australian Government.
On 14 July 2004, former Prime Minister Howard announced that the Australian Government would abandon the National Repository Project and that a new siting process would begin for a combined low and intermediate level waste management facility. The Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act 2005 was passed by Federal Parliament to facilitate this process.
More information
For more information about the National Repository Project, see Related documents.
Related documents
The following discussion papers, responses, reports and publications relate to the National Depository Project.
Public discussion papers
| Document | PDF |
|---|
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the National Repository Project |  [PDF 20.4MB]
|
Draft Environmental Impact Statement—Summary | [PDF 5.4MB] |
Draft Environmental Impact Statement—Appendices | [PDF 23.8MB] |
A Radioactive Waste Repository for Australia: Site Selection Study—Phase 3 Regional Assessment | [PDF 179KB] |
ASSESS: A System for SElecting Suitable Sites | [PDF 64KB] |
A Radioactive Waste Repository for Australia: Site Selection Study—Phase 2 | [PDF 548KB] |
Regions selected | [PDF 106KB] |
A Radioactive Waste Repository for Australia: Methods for Choosing the Right Site | [PDF 345KB] |
Responses to comments received
| Document | PDF |
|---|
Supplement to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the National Repository Project | [PDF 666MB] |
Supplement to the draft EIS—Appendix A | [PDF 1.6MB] |
Supplement to the draft EIS—Appendix B | [PDF 6.2MB] |
Supplement to the draft EIS—Appendix C | [PDF 1.3MB] |
National Radioactive Waste Repository—Site Selection Study Phase 3: A Report on Public Comment | [PDF 391KB] |
National Radioactive Waste Repository—Site Selection Study Phase 2 - A Report on Public Comment | [PDF 173KB] |
National Radioactive Waste Repository—Site Selection Study - A Report on Public Comment | [PDF 216KB] |
Bureau of Rural Sciences technical reports
| Document | Type | |
|---|
Phase 3 site assessment and Stage 3 drilling—Report on preferred sites for Stage 3 assessment | [PDF 609KB] |
Phase 3 site assessment and Stage 2 drilling—Report on preferred sites for Stage 2 assessment | [PDF 274KB] |
Phase 3 site assessment and Stage 1 drilling—Report on preferred sites for Stage 1 assessment | [PDF 1100KB] |
Hydrogeological assessment of a region in central northern South Australia | [PDF 314KB] |
Geology and Watertable Contours—Central Northern South Australia |  [GIF 95KB] |
Depth to Watertable—Central Northern South Australia | [GIF 69KB] |
Groundwater Salinity—Central Northern South Australia | [GIF 38KB] |
ANSTO and CSIRO reports
| Document | PDF |
|---|
Radionuclide adsorption and retardation measures on materials from the CNSA region including samples from the Phase III drilling program | [PDF 597KB] |
Vadose zone hydrology and radionuclide retardation—Assessment of drill samples to assist selection of five preferred sites | [PDF1.8MB] |
Vadose zone hydrology and radionuclide retardation—Supplementary study | [PDF 610KB] |
Vadose zone hydrologyand radionuclide retardation | [PDF 868KB] |
Environment Australia reports
The Monitor