A SMALL leak of radioactive water at Australia’s nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights in southern Sydney has led to renewed condemnation from anti-nuclear campaigners.

Industry regulator, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency reported yesterday that there had been a water leak from a pond used to cool nuclear fuel rods.

The leak was contained within a specially built sump and there was no contamination of the surrounding area. Bores dug around the facility detected no radioactivity.

A spokesman said there was no threat to public safety and the incident did not justify the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation making theincident public.

But Greenpeace spokesman Stephen Campbell said it wasn’t good enough for the Government to say the public was not at risk, and it was up to the public to determine whether it was significant to them.

Environmental scientist with Sutherland Shire Council Garry Smith said that even though the leakage had been contained it was still ominous. “It implies that there are structural deficiencies.”

A spokesman for ANSTO Peter Russell said it was the biggest non- event of the decade. He said the fact the water had been found showed safety systems were working.