Twenty uranium mines threaten WA
By Justin Harman
PERTH — The federal government's decision to remove restrictions on uranium mining has given a new lease of life to mining giants interested in uranium projects in WA. Already, more than 20 sites have been identified as possible uranium mines.
The coordinator of the WA Anti-Uranium Coalition, Robin Chappel, has spent the last few months researching the impact and details of the uranium projects planned for WA. Not only do these mines represent a considerable ecological threat, Chappel says, but they also infringe on the rights of Aboriginal traditional landowners.
The mine likely to open first is the Kintyre project, located 400 km south-east of Port Hedland, in north-west WA. Mining giant Rio Tinto, owner of the mine, has already invested over $29 million for preliminary drilling and the establishment of a camp.
A drop in uranium prices has led the project's temporary postponement. However, this situation is not expected to last long.
The Kintyre deposit is different from most other uranium mines in Australia. The uranium will be extracted from the ore by the "dry processing" method, which increases the risk of harmful radioactive particles being released into the air.
It is also likely that Rio Tinto will be unable to reach the deposits with an open cut mine, forcing it to go underground. This situation raises many occupational hazards.
"Workers in the confined spaces will be subject to higher health risks because of the increased exposure with uranium dust and radon gas emissions", Chappel points out.
Even more worrying is the safety record of Rio Tinto. Chappel points to an incident at a mine operated by CRA, Rio Tinto's previous incarnation. The Rum Jungle uranium mine in NT released radioactive tailings into the East Finniss River, killing all life downstream.
So far, says Chappel, "[Rio Tinto] has avoided paying back the $20 million which was spent by the Australian taxpayer in an attempt to make the aftermath of their mining operation safe".
The Kintyre operation is not just the result of the Liberals' open slather policy. While officially operating under a policy of opening "no new mines", the previous WA Labor government, led by Carmen Lawrence, paved the way for Rio Tinto to begin uranium mining at Kintyre.
Until 1993, the site was part of the Rudall River National Park, an area recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency as an "A" class reserve because of the diversity of its flora and fauna. This counted for little, however, when in the mid-'80s CRA became convinced a large and easily extractable uranium deposit existed at Kintyre.
"In reaction to this", says Chappel, "the state Labor government prepared a document in 1990 called 'Resolution of Conflict', in which the area of the mine was recommended to be excised from the park. Formal excision was made by the Court Liberal government immediately after it took power in 1993."
Lawrence is now the federal Labor shadow minister for the environment. She now claims to be opposed to the Kintyre uranium mine.
Before Kintyre goes ahead, Rio Tinto faces a significant battle not only with environmentalists, but also with the traditional inhabitants of the land. In a report prepared for the Wilderness Society, Chappel stated:
"Until about 30 years ago, the Rudall River region was continuously occupied by the Martu people. Rock shelters in the region illustrate continuous human occupation from at least 5000 years ago. In the 1950s and '60s, however, the Martu were rounded up and removed by the state so the area could be used for government Blue Streak Missile tests."
At a meeting in Alice Springs, the Martu people made public their feelings on the possibility of uranium mining on their land. "We don't want uranium from our country to hurt other peoples. The Aboriginal experience with uranium mining continues to result in the genocide of our community and the destruction of our homelands and country."
There are other forces, besides Rio Tinto, intent on opening WA to uranium mining. One of the biggest contenders is Acclaim Uranium NL, established in May 1997, boasting Bill Hassell, a prominent ex-leader of the WA Liberal Party, as its chairperson.
Acclaim has proposed 15 potential mines covering 5824 sq km of WA. All but one of its leases are subject to native title claims.
Hassell became infamous in WA for the vicious and racist campaign he ran against native title as leader of the Liberal Party in the mid-1980s, making wild claims about how the "socialist" federal Labor government was trying to "divide Australia on racial grounds".
It seems all Acclaim and Rio Tinto are waiting for before proceeding with their plans is an improvement in global uranium prices.
The WA Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ecologically Sustainable Development, headed by Greens WA MLC Dr Christine Sharp, will be accepting submissions and making assessments of the environmental impact of Kintyre throughout 1998.
The key to stopping these developments is public opposition to uranium mining. The decision to mine in the World Heritage-listed areas around Jabiluka has raised awareness of the adverse impact of uranium mining, both ecologically and for the indigenous population.
In Perth, this awareness is set to grow. In late February, Jacqui Katona, executive director of the Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation and representative of the Mirrar people of Kakadu, will be visiting Perth on a speaking tour.
Also in WA will be film-maker David Bradbury, who will be presenting the WA premiere of his film, Jabiluka. A national day of action against Uranium mining in Jabiluka has been set for March 21.