Police have erected signs in Wollongong announcing a special operation on Saturday to coincide with a ship registered to carry nuclear waste berthing at Port Kembla.
Nuclear fuel carrier the Pacific Grebe is due to dock at Port Kembla between 11am and 11pm this Saturday.
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), which runs Australia's only research nuclear reactor, said planning was underway for repatriation of radioactive waste by-products from the United Kingdom, similar to the 2015 operation that returned used nuclear fuel rods from France.
ANSTO, based at Lucas Heights in southern Sydney, would not confirm the details of the shipment.
However, a statement from ANSTO said their UK partner confirmed the loading of specialist nuclear vessel the Pacific Grebe and its departure from Cumbria on January 20, carrying intermediate-level waste.
"ANSTO cannot comment on the port, route or timing of the planned repatriation of Australia's radioactive waste, but can confirm the many facts on the record about the operation," a spokesperson said.
"Some 85 per cent of the radioactive waste that is produced at ANSTO is linked to the medicine production program."
It follows news this week that Port Kembla may become the site of a new nuclear submarine base, along with Newcastle and Brisbane.
Secretary of the South Coast Labour Council Arthur Rorris said he was not opposed to the transportation of nuclear waste for medical purposes, but was opposed to the proposal to locate nuclear-powered submarines in Port Kembla Harbour.
"The difference between Lucas Heights and its waste material and that of a nuclear submarine base is the fact that we would be a nuclear target if we are plugged into a nuclear war machine."
