Letters

Author:
Publication: The Age (16,Wed 13 May 2009)
Edition: First

Dubious celebrations

THIS week in Alice Springs we celebrate the beginning of test-drilling on the proposed huge Angela-Pamela uranium mine. This open-cut operation is not only gorgeously located above our fragile desert water table but also conveniently situated just 10 kilometres across the field from four indigenous town camps and the indigenous boarding college.

Lucky for them, the seasonal winds often blow from the south, ensuring that no one living there will miss out on a daily lungful of airborne radioactive nuclides during the dust storm season.

Perhaps Peter Garrett can write a song in celebration to mark the occasion. A re-release of Beds are Burning, with funds going to the southern Alice Springs town camps to help purchase some decent respiratory protection, would be another option.

Basil Schild, Alice Springs

Wednesday 13 May 2009

Outcry over Alice uranium mining

Author:
Publication: Northern Territory News (9,Wed 13 May 2009)
Edition: 1 -
Section: News
Keywords: uranium (2)

AN ENVIRONMENTAL group has condemned a government decision to explore for uranium in a water catchment area.
Arid Lands Environment Centre co-ordinator Jimmy Cocking said the NT Government's decision to let Cameco drill in the Alice Springs catchment boundary was based on economics, not community and social well-being.
``It shows contempt for the residents of Alice Springs, who have clearly expressed opposition,'' he said. He said the drilling had started before the mine's environmental management plan had been approved.
Story in BusinessWeek, Page 26

Wednesday 13 May 2009

Drillers dig in at Red Centre site

Author:
Publication: Northern Territory News (26,Wed 13 May 2009)

DRILLING work has started at the Angela uranium prospect near Alice Springs.
Centralian company Gorey and Cole is carrying out the job.
The Cameco-Paladin joint venture was awarded an exploration licence by the Territory Government last October.
Several conditions were imposed before drilling could start, including:
A MANAGEMENT plan had to be submitted to the Government and approved.
A SECURITY bond had to be paid.
BASELINE environmental monitoring for dust and groundwater had to start.
AN ABORIGINAL Areas Protection Authority certificate had to be obtained.
There was extensive drilling of the area in the 1970s and 1980s.
The latest exploration project will drill a smaller number of holes to verify the uranium resource.
Drilling results will be used for a feasibility study, which will determine the possible economics of developing a mining operation.
The initial drilling program will take about seven months and include about 120 drill holes.
The holes will be plugged and capped and the area will be rehabilitated at the end of exploration.
Cameco-Paladin said no radioactive dust would be produced by the drilling.
``The amount of dust generated by drilling will be less than from a passing car and it will be captured in a dust suppression unit,'' the company said in a statement.
Reverse circulation drilling, which produces dust, will be used only for drilling through barren overlaying rock formations.
Once drilling gets to the uranium-bearing rock, diamond drilling will be used.
``This produces no dust,'' the company said.
Cameco said its health and safety officer would ensure all health and safety procedures were ``rigidly followed''.
Staff working on the drill rig will wear protective clothing, including face masks, during reverse circulation drilling, as a precautionary measure.
``Even so, uranium in its natural state is relatively safe, with core samples handled freely by geologists and the drilling crew,'' the company said.
``Normal hygiene measures are followed, particularly washing hands after handling uranium-bearing rock before eating or smoking.''
The Greens said the Northern Territory Government should not have approved the drilling.
Senator Scott Ludlam said the move was ``provocative''.