Antinuclear

Aboriginals want a GENUINE study into Ranger uranium mine and water

Aboriginal people living in the area were worried about the health of their communities, wildlife and nearby world heritage listed wetlands. “The mining company – they wouldn’t listen to us,” she said…..The Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation which represents the Mirrar is now calling for a study into surface water that comes out of the mine…

ERA rejects ‘poison’ mine water worry – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Anna Henderson  Feb 9, 2011 A senior traditional owner in Kakadu National Park is calling on the Australian government to reject plans to expand the Ranger uranium mine.

Senior traditional owner Yvonne Margarula said the Mirrar people in Kakadu are concerned Energy Resources of Australia can’t manage the waste water at its Ranger mine.

She said traditional owners were not confident that the waste water was being safely managed after milling operations were suspended last month.

“We are worrying about what might happen, poison water,” Ms Margurula said.

She said the mine’s processing plant was shut down for three months because the tailings dam was almost full.

“The water getting bigger, it’s going downstream,” she said.

She said Aboriginal people living in the area were worried about the health of their communities, wildlife and nearby world heritage listed wetlands.

“The mining company – they wouldn’t listen to us,” she said…..The Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation which represents the Mirrar is now calling for a study into surface water that comes out of the mine………

Traditional owners say the analysis must be done independently.

ERA is submitting a draft environmental impact statement later this year for new mining at the Ranger site.

ERA rejects ‘poison’ mine water worry – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

February 9, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | aboriginal issues, Northern Territory, uranium, water | water