Antinuclear

Murky dealings in Western Australia’s Kintyre uranium mine proposal

Do the Martu people really want uranium mined nearby their communities? It does not sound like it but their permission is ‘official’…….

Wiluna Elder Geoff Cooke will fight to the end to prevent mining on his Country.

“We are the custodians of the land. Uranium is a poison. Our rivers will be poisoned. Our trees will be poisoned. Our food will be contaminated. Our people will become sick.

Uranium mine proposal approved – on Martu Country, The Stringer, by Gerry Georgatos March 7th, 2015   Western Australia’s largest national park is facing its biggest threat – uranium mining. Last Thursday, the State’s Environment Minister approved a uranium mine proposal while in the background an investigation is plodding along into allegations of improper dealings by some Traditional Owners.

Anti-uranium campaigner and conservationist Mia Pepper said, “The Minister, Albert Jacobs, approved the proposed uranium mine at Kintyre, a unique ecosystem that was excised from the Karlamilyi National Park to allow mining.” In the Northern Territory, Jabiluka was excised from the World Heritage listed Kakadu. When it comes to uranium mining – and mining in general – anything can happen, even in the middle of a world famous and world heritage listed national park.

“Uranium mining would impact on scarce water resources and a number of significant and vulnerable species including the bilby, marsupial mole and rock wallaby, ” said Ms Pepper.

The Federal Environment Minister, Greg Hunt, will decide the final approval check, but it is a given. The national park and Kintyre are surrounded by Martu communities. It is Martu Country but for those with the huge quid in mind, it is uranium country. The Parnngurr community has been fighting against the uranium proposal.

CAMECO, in a joint venture with Mitsubushi Development, are hopeful of a not too distant commencement to their uranium mine. But last year, there were revelations of alleged improprieties by some of the Martu representatives and brokers in the ‘securing’ of the Martu people’s permission to mine uranium on their Country and nearby their communities. In particular the Western Desert Lands Aboriginal Corporation was brought under the spotlight. The allegations from various parties flew thick and fast. But in the end it all comes down to whether improprieties translate to actual breaches of any laws.

What is clear though, is that some of the carpetbaggers have knocked up a significant quid but the Martu people in general remain impoverished. Last year, journalists Richard Baker and Nick McKenzie of The Age, published whistleblower allegations by Martu man, Darren Farmer, of alleged secret payments – around $21 million – to silence opposition to the proposed uranium project. The former CEO of liquidated Western Desert Puntukunuparna Aboriginal Corporation, Bruce Hill chipped in with accusations – some of them longstanding – of alleged improprieties in how decisions are made by representatives of the Martu.

Yesterday, WA Today journalist, Steve Holland reported that WA parliamentarian, Robin Chapple, said Mr Jacob should not have approved the Kintyre uranium proposal while questions remained about how the Martu people’s permission was secured.

“The Minister should not have made any decision until the position of the Martu people, with regards to a uranium mine on their lands, had been absolutely clarified,” said Mr Chapple.

“Instead, what Mr Jacob has done is slip this through quietly overnight with complete disregard for the investigation, or the mountain of appeals he has received in opposition.”

Mr Chapple told Mr Holland, “Appeals submitted on the basis of threats to groundwater, radiological uptake by native flora, the lack of baseline studies and commitments to monitoring in key areas have been dismissed.”

“If this proposal ever wants to see the light of day it needs to be taken right back to step one and properly assessed.”…….

Do the Martu people really want uranium mined nearby their communities? It does not sound like it but their permission is ‘official’…….

Wiluna Elder Geoff Cooke will fight to the end to prevent mining on his Country.

“We are the custodians of the land. Uranium is a poison. Our rivers will be poisoned. Our trees will be poisoned. Our food will be contaminated. Our people will become sick. http://thestringer.com.au/uranium-mine-proposal-approved-on-martu-country-9838#.VPzT5NKUcnl

March 9, 2015 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | aboriginal issues, Western Australia