Antinuclear

Radioactive legacy of Western Australia’s uranium mining

Australian Greens Senator for WA Rachel Siewert has used the site to highlight the dangers of uranium mining.
“As the Australian Uranium Summit kicks off, it is crucial that West Australians get the full story,” Ms Siewert said. “Uranium mining and nuclear power is not clean, it is not safe and it is not cheap.”

High radiation levels ‘more than hundred times’ safe level at Wiluna mine | Perth Now, Narelle Towie, , July 21, 2010 RADIATION levels more than 100 times normal background readings have been recorded at an old uranium site, despite the area being “cleaned” a decade ago.

Greens MP Robin Chapple said radiation at the former uranium exploration site, near the Lake Way, 11km from Wiluna, peaked at 143 times the normal range for that area last week.

Wiluna is 950km north-east of Perth.

“Both sites had exposed ore left on the surface as a result of ground disturbing activities associated with exploration work dating back to the 1980s when CSR had the tenement leases,” Mr Chapple said.

Rusting drums containing low-grade uranium were buried in the area in 2000 by officials from the Department of Minerals and Energy after fears were raised by Wiluna Aborigines that they were being exposed to the deadly ore…..at one of the sites this week, levels were detected at 7.150 microSieverts per hour of alpha radiation, well above ambient radiation levels worldwide, which are between 0.05 and 0.12 uSv/hr…….Australian Greens Senator for WA Rachel Siewert has used the site to highlight the dangers of uranium mining.
“As the Australian Uranium Summit kicks off, it is crucial that West Australians get the full story,” Ms Siewert said.
“Uranium mining and nuclear power is not clean, it is not safe and it is not cheap.”

“The Greens are the only party to consistently advocate the development of renewable energy sources and a sustainable power system, and consistently reject the dangerous and cost-ineffective nuclear option.”

High radiation levels ‘more than hundred times’ safe level at Wiluna mine | Perth Now

July 22, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment, uranium, Western Australia | aboriginal, antinuclear, Australia, nuclear, radiation, renewable, uranium