No nukes till late 2030s: energy switch may take years

The coalition proposes building nuclear plants on the sites of existing and retired coal stations. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

Nuclear power plants could take up to 15 years to establish in Australia and facilities to dispose of high-level nuclear waste twice as long, an inquiry has heard.

Waste produced by the power plants might have to be stored at the nuclear sites in the meantime, experts said, until "deep geological facilities" could be developed.