2008 April 3: Say no to uranium mine 25km from Alice Springs
The Australian Conservation Foundation and the Arid Lands Environment Centre have urged NT Labor Party members to reject outright the proposal for a new uranium mine in central Australia when the issue comes up for debate at this weekend’s Territory ALP conference.
Delegates to the conference are expected to raise health, environment, cultural and water supply concerns about the proposal to mine the Angela and Pamela uranium deposits 25 kilometres south of Alice Springs.
“The Angela and Pamela uranium deposits are within Alice Springs’ water catchment boundaries,” said ACF nuclear free campaigner Adele Pedder.
“Mining and milling uranium consumes huge amounts of water. To mine in this area could cause significant water quality and quantity problems for Alice Springs residents.”
“Uranium is a unique mineral; digging it up has unique implications and risks,” Ms Pedder said.
“There is no way a uranium mine this close to town can ever meet a truly independent environmental impact assessment,” ALEC Beyond Nuclear Initiative project officer Natalie Wasley said.
“Territory Labor should return the status of the area to ‘reservation’ from ‘occupation’ and in doing so avoid the negative impacts on health, culture, water supply and the environment that would inevitably accompany exploration and mining,” Ms Wasley said.
Contact: Josh Meadows, ACF media adviser, 03 9345 1109
Nat Wasley, ALEC Beyond Nuclear Initiative project officer, 0429 900 774