By Adam Hanieh
ADELAIDE — Western Mining Corporation is in the process of doubling the size of its mine at Olympic Dam in northern South Australia. Green Left Weekly spoke to Steve Baker from Friends of the Earth about the mine, the potential consequences of the proposed expansion and planned campaigns.
Baker explained that the mine was fast-tracked past environmental and other regulations governing mining via its own special legislation, the Roxby Downs (Indenture Ratification) Act, 1982. Under this act, WMC does its own monitoring and assessment of the operations of the mine and has no requirement of accountability to the public. It, does not have to pay for the water it draws from the Great Artesian Basin. Its environmental impact statement (EIS) was also originally confidential, until released due to public pressure.
Currently, 10-15 megalitres per day are drawn from the Great Artesian Basin to supply the mine and township. A doubling of the mine would increase this to approximately 42 megalitres per day, and would double the amount of liquid fed into the retention system.
The mine's retention system was not built to the specifications outlined in the EIS, and a massive leak has already occurred from the tailings dam (which was admitted to only in 1994 after word got out, several years after WMC became aware of it). The amount of uranium extracted would increase to 3000 tonnes annually (along with an increase in the amounts of copper, silver and gold mined).
A new bore field (B), is being developed to cater for the extra requirements of the expanded mine and township. WMC claims that this is covered by its EIS. This was not the view of the previous federal Labor government nor the executive of the Commonwealth Environmental Protection Agency, which informed Friends of the Earth that WMC would probably be in breach of the law if no new EIS was submitted. In January, however, the EPA retreated from this position.
A pipeline is being constructed from bore field B to A via Crows Nest bore, the original test site for the project, which was used to determine if the water was of sufficient quality for WMC's purposes. It was not used as a water source due to its close proximity to Hermit Springs, the second most important mound spring complex in the region.
Baker believes that WMC now plans to use Crows Nest, drawing 29 megalitres a day until bore field B is completed (in approximately three years). This proposal was not part of the public discussion process, and could have a significant impact on Hermit Springs. Some mound springs in the vicinity of bore field A have already dried up, and others have been significantly degraded.
Any increase in the amount of water drawn from the basin can be expected to further damage mound springs, which are immensely valuable not only from an environmental perspective, but also culturally for the Aboriginal people of the area.
Concerns expressed by officially recognised spokespersons for the area have been largely ignored by state governments and WMC, Baker describing the consultation process as "a sham". The original designated area for bore field B covered by the special water licence put out for public discussion was far smaller than the area revealed in the map released after "consultation".
FOE are campaigning against all uranium mining, with the South Australian and Victorian branches concentrating on Roxby Downs. The WA Greens have initiated a Senate inquiry into uranium mining and milling, to which FOE will be putting a submission.
Other lobbying of parliamentarians is also planned. FOE is supporting the private member's bill by the Democrats that opposes mining in world heritage areas and national parks. Baker cautioned, however, against the environment movement getting too focused on uranium mining in world heritage areas or national parks to the detriment of campaigning against all uranium mining.
The Coalition's position on uranium mining is clear. "The government has said it will not consult on whether new mines will open, just on the management of mines", Baker said. A strong campaign will be needed to stop its plans.