Department of Industry, Innovation and Science head of resources Bruce Wilson was joined by a panel of radioactive waste experts.

Bruce Drakeford told Mr Wilson he is a 62-year-old third- generation local farmer. “I probably have the oldest ancestry of anyone in the hall today,” he said.

Mr Drakeford said he owns 1700 acres of land six kilometres from Hill End. He said the acreage short-listed for the nuclear waste dump was 3000 feet above sea level and falls down to the Turon River which eventually makes its way to the head of the Burrendong Dam 20km away.

“If a spill or leak occurs it has the capacity to contaminate half of NSW,” he said.

Russell Giles said although the run-off from the proposed property goes straight into the two creeks on his property, he and his wife knew nothing about the property being short-listed for nuclear waste until his wife went into Bathurst and read about it in the paper.

He scoffed at information received at the meeting that the intermediate waste would be encased in a 90 tonne glass bubble transported by two prime movers.

“You can’t even get a B-double down those roads,” he said. Adding to this, fine-wool farmer Geoff Rayner, said he had sought information from a roads expert and was told the bridges won’t carry the weight, and the sharp bends won’t allow for the trucks.

“I don’t know how you’d get a B-double around them,” he said. Mr Wilson admitted the roads would provide a challenge to be investigated if Hill End were to be further shortlisted.

“It may be too expensive,” he said.

“If the cost of changing the roads is too significant, then it won’t come here.” Former barrister Steve Wilson expressed concern that some councillors in Bathurst want to get their hands on the $10 million being offered as compensation to the community. “We do