Climate apocalypse is heading, unless the world takes drastic action
Australia is the world’s largest coal exporter, with thermal and coking coal shipments last year totalling 382 million tonnes.
The findings of the report are at odds with the Morrison government’s insistence that coal will play an essential role in the nation’s economic future.
For the first time in a IPCC report, the authors included social and economic impacts. That marked “the end of magical thinking” that sustainable development goals and poverty reduction could be divorced from climate action.
“If governments fail to drastically and urgently reduce emissions, they are knowingly contributing to the dangers of a world that is at least 1.5 degrees warmer,” Tessa Khan, co-director of the Climate Litigation Network.
“This has clear legal consequences and governments will inevitably be held accountable for knowingly putting people in harm’s way,” Ms Khan said, noting citizens in the Netherlands, Ireland, Switzerland, Norway, Colombia, the US and New Zealand have already taken their governments to court.
“This litigation is only just picking up speed.”
‘Next decade critical’: Perils mount at 1.5 degrees of warming, says IPCC , Sydney Morning Herald, By Peter Hannam & Nicole Hasham 8 October 2018 —The amount of coal and other fossil fuels the world can burn without unleashing dangerous climate change that will undermine the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people and all but wipe out the Great Barrier Reef is “very small”, according to a major climate report.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s special report on a 1.5-degree hotter planet, released on Monday, said limiting warming to that amount remains possible, but only with “rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society”……..
We’re currently heading towards about 3 degrees or 4 degrees of warming by 2100,” said Mark Howden, director of the Climate Change Institute at the Australian National University and one of the review’s editors.
“Limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees is not impossible but would actually require major transitions in many aspects of society, and to do those transitions, the next 10 years are critical.”
Average temperature rises mask extreme events. Temperatures of hot days are forecast to increase three degrees in a 1.5 degree warmer world, and by four degrees if mean temperatures rise by 2 degrees.
Carbon budget Continue reading
Cost of action on climate change is high – political will is lacking
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The political will to prevent climate change is lacking, even as the cost climbs Brisbane Times By David Crowe,8 October 2018 Australians are being presented with another startling contrast between colossal risk and paltry action over climate change.The latest scientific advice is that human activity has already caused an increase of 1 degree in world temperatures, with global warming estimated to reach 1.5 degrees by 2052 on current trends.
The cost is astronomical. The damage over the years to 2100 would reach $US54 trillion in today’s dollars if warming was kept to 1.5 degrees. The cost would climb to $US69 trillion if warming reached 2 degrees. The obvious message from the report is to stop the 2 degree scenario. The scientists say this means halting the use of coal by 2050, accelerating the use of renewables and making mammoth investments to change the economy. This cost is just as draw-dropping. The report says the investment would need to be $US2.4 trillion a year by 2034 across the global economy. There is no country-by-country analysis of what this means but Australia makes up about 1 per cent of global emissions, so it may have the same share of the expense. Can Australia invest $US24 billion a year to avert dangerous climate change? That is more than the federal government spends on public hospitals. The answer from the Greens is to shut down coal-fired power stations and stop coal exports, but only about 10 per cent of Australian voters supported this position at the last election by giving the Greens their primary vote. The two major parties will not rush the closure of coal-fired power stations. The answer from the government is to ask for more time to come up with a policy. The leadership turmoil in August left the Liberals and Nationals without a plan to reduce emissions. Prime Minister Scott Morrison insisted on Monday that Australia would meet its emission targets “in a canter” but this is disputed by climate experts. It is a laughable message – nothing more than saying “trust us” – when the demise of the National Energy Guarantee proved again that the Coalition party room is incapable of reaching a consensus and then holding its nerve on energy and climate policy. Labor has a 50 per cent target for renewable energy by 2030 but is yet to spell out how it would reduce emissions in government. One approach is to rebuild a policy from the wreckage of the NEG but this is easier said than done……. https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/federal/the-political-will-to-prevent-climate-change-is-lacking-even-as-the-cost-climbs-20181008-p508g2.html |
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To save Barrier Reef, Australia and the rest of the world must virtually eliminate the use of coal for electricity within 22 years
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IPCC issues dire climate warning, says coal must go to save Great Barrier Reef http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-10-08/ipcc-climate-change-report/10348720 Australia and the rest of the world must virtually eliminate the use of coal for electricity within 22 years if there is to be a chance to save even some of the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s most authoritative climate science body has warned.
In a report authored by more than 90 scientists, and pulling together thousands of pieces of climate research, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said global emissions of greenhouse gas pollution must reach zero by about 2050 in order to stop global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius. At current rates, they said 1.5C would be breached as early as 2040, and 2C would be breached in the 2060s. If that happens, temperatures over many land regions would increase by double that amount. And at 2C of warming, the authors warn the world would risk hitting “tipping points”, setting a course towards uncontrollable temperatures. With the world already 1C warmer than pre-industrial times, experts said this report, released by the IPCC in Incheon, Korea, was likely our final warning before it becomes impossible to keep warming at 1.5C. “To limit temperature change to 1.5 degrees we have to strongly reduce carbon dioxide emissions,” said report contributor Professor Mark Howden from ANU. “They have to decline about 45 per cent by 2030 and they have to reach zero by 2050. 1.5C vs 2C: What’s the difference?Coral reefs would be a particular casualty. They are expected to decline by a further 70 to 90 per cent even under 1.5C, but that rises to more than 99 per cent reef loss as temperature rises hit 2C. In Australia, that means the vast majority of the Great Barrier Reef will undergo significant upheaval or collapse. Combined with increased ocean acidification due to higher carbon dioxide concentrations, this is expected to heavily affect fish stocks and diversity. Meanwhile on land, a rise of 2C would mean three times as much of the earth’s terrestrial ecosystems would undergo transformations, compared to a rise of 1.5C, significantly increasing species extinctions. Then there are the rising waters. Modern humans have never seen an ice-free Arctic, but at 2C that would happen once a decade, compared to once a century at 1.5C. A 2C rise would also mean an extra 10 centimetres of average sea-level rise by the end of the century, affecting an extra 10 million people. And while some are inundated, a 2C rise would also double the number of people experiencing water scarcity. We would be hit with more extreme hot weather events in every part of the world: more floods in most, and more drought in some. Those extreme events would be “far worse” as temperature increases go beyond 1.5C, according to Will Steffen from ANU’s Climate Change Institute. “Loss of the Amazon forests, melting of the permafrost, loss of ice in West Antarctic and Greenland, they are much riskier at 2 degrees than they are at 1.5,” Professor Steffen said. “They could lead to a tipping cascade where the system will get hotter and hotter even if we bring our emissions down.” Coal use needs to drop to ‘0 to 2 per cent’: expert Continue reading |
The spurious promise of JOBs for burdening a community with a stranded nuclear waste dump
Paul Waldon Fight To Stop Nuclear Waste Dump In Flinders Ranges SA, 7 Oct 18 Conversation Starter · The birth of a nuclear program more than just a few years young will burden not one but two 
unwilling communities with the country’s legacy of radioactive wastes, one community serving as a cushion to soften the impact of what maybe yet another one of the governments failures, so they can push their program forward to the second chosen site.
This program has seen false codification of high grade waste, and we have all heard the ongoing resounding factoid that nuclear will be a rainmaker with a promise of no less than 45 jobs on offer.
However they fail to tell us the economic void to tourism and impacts to other industries that can not be financially satisfied by embracing such waste from the nuclear industry, for they live in denial of the existential risks, and threats.
Most people may think I’m talking just about South Australia, however there is yet another program in the nuclear seasoned country of America where they are trying to place the burden of radioactive wastes on southeast New Mexico, and west Texas, with a promise of no less than 45 jobs which mirrors the image of the DIIS’s program and is running parallel, and the only difference I see with both of these programs is the acronyms of the governing bodies. https://www.facebook.com/groups/344452605899556/
Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison joins the pro nuclear bandwagon
Whatever it takes: ScoMo prepared to go nuclear if it cuts power prices https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/climate/whatever-it-takes-scomo-prepared-to-go-nuclear-if-it-cuts-power-prices/news-story/1193fd298fb3ff1d57b4e48accea3ee1 GREG BROWN, OCTOBER 8, 2018 Scott Morrison says he would overturn the ban on building nuclear reactors in Australia if he believed it would put downward pressure on power prices.
The Prime Minister said he would do “whatever it takes” to make electricity cheaper, and he would have no issues allowing nuclear reactors to be built if it would make lower household bills.
But warned the investment case to build a nuclear reactor did not “stack up”.
You’ve got to make the investment stack up,” Mr Morrison told 2GB radio.
Last month, former PM Tony Abbott called on the Morrison government to lift the prohibition on nuclear power.
Mr Abbott told 2GB there was “absolutely no reason why, when it’s economic, we shouldn’t have nuclear power generation in Australia”.
The push to revive the nuclear debate comes after Mr Morrison last month declared the NEG dead, while opposition energy spokesman Mark Butler held out the prospect of Labor moving to revive the policy in government following engagement with industry.
The former chair of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and current chair of 
NBN Co, Ziggy Switkowski, told The Weekend Australian it was sensible to clear the regulatory pathway for the next generation of small nuclear reactors.
Meanwhile, the International Atomic Agency says nuclear energy is vital to meeting the global challenge of climate change but projections were for a dramatic shortfall in capacity by 2050.
A new report from the agency revealed without nuclear, cumulative greenhouse gas emissions between 2018 and 2050 could be up to 12 gigatonnes higher, more than 20 times Australia’s entire emissions last year.
Called Climate Change and Nuclear Power 2018, the report said climate change was one of the most important issues facing the world today.
Nuclear energy could make an important contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions while delivering energy in the increasingly large quantities needed for global economic development.
“Nuclear power plants produce virtually no greenhouse gas emissions or air pollutants during their operation and only very low emissions over their full life cycle,” the report said.
No Australian government support for “nonsense” like climate change action
Morrison vows no money for climate conferences and “all that 
nonsense” https://reneweconomy.com.au/morrison-vows-no-money-for-climate-conferences-and-all-that-nonsense-38468/ 8 October 2018 Australia’s prime minister Scott Morrison has responded to the latest UN Intergovenmental Panel of Climate Change report by declaring that he had no intention of spending money on global climate conferences and “all that sort of nonsense.”
New political party – Stop Selling Australia party
Stop Selling Australia party.
We mainly focus on the prevention of our assets and essential services being sold off to foreign countries, we also care about the long term future of Australia.
This includes the dumping of nuclear waste in Australia which is not in the interest of our kids.
We are planning on running a candidate in each state, but as yet don’t have one for South Australia.
If you know anyone who might be suitable, please contact me and we can have a chat.
Thanks,
Mike Barclay https://www.facebook.com/groups/344452605899556/
Australia lagging behind in electric cars, though they save lives and cut costs
6 October 2018 Deaths from air pollution would be prevented and the Morrison government would meet its pledge to make electricity more reliable and affordable if more Australians drove electric cars, but a lack of political will is holding back the benefits.That is the widespread view expressed to a Senate probe into electric vehicles in Australia. Electric car maker Tesla, headed by controversial entrepreneur Elon Musk, is among those who assert that “government leadership” is the main barrier to increasing electric vehicle uptake in Australia, while the government’s own infrastructure adviser warned that Australians “risk being left behind” in the global transition.
Australia trails the world in the adoption of electric vehicles. Just 2284 were sold last year – 0.2 per cent of total vehicle sales. This is largely attributed to a lack of vehicle choice, fears about limited driving range and higher upfront costs than traditional cars.
In contrast, electric vehicles make up about 20 per cent of new sales in Norway, and are expected to reach 30 per cent of sales in China by 2030.
The Senate inquiry, chaired by independent South Australian senator Tim Storer, is investigating the benefits and opportunities of electric vehicles in Australia.
It is broadly acknowledged that electric vehicles improve air quality, help address climate change, boost public health and are cheaper to run than conventional vehicles.
……The Morrison government said these two outcomes – making electricity more reliable and affordable – would be its “unrelenting” focus following the demise of the National Energy Guarantee. However the government provided only limited support for electric-vehicle adoption.
Tesla told the inquiry that thousands of Australians had placed deposits for its model 3 sedan and research showed 50 per cent of Australians would consider an electric vehicle for their next purchase.
But it said governments must help ensure Australians could access charging infrastructure and a wide range of vehicle models, and reduce financial and logistical hurdles.
“The main barrier to increasing electric vehicle uptake in Australia is not consumer appetite; rather it is clear government leadership,” Tesla wrote.
The NRMA, ClimateWorks and the Electric Vehicle Council also called on governments to act to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles in various ways, such as implementing vehicle emissions standards, supporting the establishment of charging infrastructure and setting targets for government fleets. ……
The Senate committee is due to report in December. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/electric-cars-would-save-lives-and-cut-costs-but-australians-risk-being-left-behind-20180914-p503th.html
Un-paid people who care -speak out against nuclear waste dump plan for South Australia
I am always struck by the fact that opponents of the nuclear industry are very many unpaid people. Just people who care. Some are highly educated academically. Many are not – but then they take the trouble to find out, and speak with the authority of both their local knowledge and wider information.
As for nuclear proponents they’re a small number of paid individuals, with another small number of hangers on who expect financial benefits from the nuclear industry.
Barb Walker shared a post. on Flinders Local Action Group– more – https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=flinders%20local%20action%20group
ABC Radio Adelaide Evenings with Peter Goer. Talkback 4 Oct 18. This show was inundated with hundreds of South Australians phoning in and texting about the proposed nuclear waste dump. ALL SAID NO! Are you listening DIIS and ANSTO !!!??…. IT’S A BIG NO FROM SOUTH AUSTRALIA!!! http://www.abc.net.au/…/adelaide/programs/evenings/evenings…Port Augusta – proudly the ‘renewables capital of Australia’
‘Renewables capital of Australia’? Port Augusta shows off its green 
energy credentials, ABC
Thirteen renewable energy projects are underway or under consideration — from wind farms and pumped hydro-electric power to solar with storage that can shift electricity made when the sun’s shining to meet peak demand in the evening.
“The one great resource we have here in Port Augusta and the upper Spencer Gulf is this wonderful natural resource called the sun,” Mr Johnson said.
“It’s no different to having a massive uranium deposit, a massive gold deposit, a massive copper deposit.”
In a country drenched in sun, this natural resource is particularly abundant in the arid landscape around Port Augusta, and there are also plenty of flat expanses on which to build the facilities needed to exploit it.
Framed by the Flinders Ranges, stage one of the Bungala solar farm stretches over 300 hectares of land owned by the Bungala Aboriginal Corporation about 10 kilometres north-east of town.
Bungala uses a solar photovoltaic technology, with panels mounted on a tilting axis that can follow the sun’s path from east to west, maximising output and efficiency.
“It’s not only the largest solar project in Australia,” Mr Johnson said. “It’s also the largest in the southern hemisphere. And it’s only half complete.”
When stage two is complete, the entire project will cover more than 800 hectares — an expanse nearly as big as the Melbourne CBD — and generate up to 570 gigawatt hours of electricity a year, enough to power about 82,000 households, according to its owners, Italian multinational Enel Green Power and the Dutch Infrastructure Fund.
“Note that the Northern Power Station, when it was operating, was only producing between 500 and 540 megawatts,” Mr Johnson said.
“Obviously, it was operating 24-7, while the solar plant will only operate when the sun is shining, but when you start to incorporate battery storage and solar thermal, you then build in the energy security.”
Solar that releases energy even when the sun doesn’t shine
The Aurora project about 30 kilometres north-west of Port Augusta addresses the criticism often levelled at renewable energy — that when the sun doesn’t shine, and the wind doesn’t blow, the power doesn’t flow.
Construction is due to start soon on the concentrated solar thermal power station. It will able to store a massive 1,100 megawatt-hours of electricity, according to the project proponent, SolarReserve.
When it is built, an impressive sight will greet observers: a tower full of molten salt standing about 250 metres high, surrounded by more than 10,000 heliostats — movable mirrors, the size of billboards, algorithmically programmed to track the sun.
Those thousands of mirrors will reflect and concentrate sunlight, beaming it onto a receiver straddling the top of the tower.
During the day, molten salt will flow through the receiver and be heated to temperatures as high as 566 degrees Celsius, then stored in tanks overnight.
The energy will be dispatchable as electricity when needed — after dark in the evening peaks, or in the morning, hours after it was generated. It will be enough energy to power 90,000 homes, according to SolarReserve, which wants to build six of these plants in South Australia.
Crescent Dunes in the Nevada desert uses an identical technology.
There is one key difference: the price of the power.
“Pricing has come down dramatically, as it has throughout the renewable energy industry,” Kevin Smith, the chief executive of SolarReserve, said.
Crescent Dunes, the first plant of its kind, began operating in 2014.
Construction was aided by a concessional loan of $US737 million ($1,040 million) from the US Department of Energy. Despite that subsidy, it was contracted to supply electricity to Nevada at $190 a megawatt hour. Not cheap.
The Aurora project is receiving a much smaller concessional loan from the Australian Government — about $110 million — but will supply energy at a fraction of the price.
SolarReserve is cagey about the precise figure (the contractual conditions are complex) but Mr Smith agreed with reports that put the cost at about $78 a megawatt hour.
At current exchange rates, that is well under half the price of electricity from its inaugural plant in the US — and far cheaper than new coal-fired power.
“In terms of cents per kilowatt hour, we can supply electricity 30 to 40 per cent cheaper than new-build coal,” Mr Smith maintained.
A town blanketed in ash
Coal used to be Port Augusta’s lifeblood………
“We have incredible geography. We have everything we need to become the renewables capital of the world.”
An exaggeration? Maybe, but it’s not far off the mark.
The arid-zone landscape of the upper Spencer Gulf has solar resources ideally suited for concentrating solar thermal power, wind in abundance at speeds well suited for turbines, and a coastal location that opens the possibility of pumped hydro energy using seawater.
What you won’t find are fields of fruit and vegetables — but where there’s a will, there’s a way.
That white beacon of light on the edge of town? It’s a solar thermal power plant that runs a massive greenhouse that grows truss tomatoes.
Sundrop Farm is using the solar thermal electricity to desalinate water, create electricity to power the operation, and pump heat through 60 kilometres of pipe around the vines.
It’s a testament to human ingenuity, like much of what’s happening in the renewal of Port Augusta. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-05/port-augusta-becomes-australian-renewable-energy-hub/10338812
High level nuclear wastes returned from France to Australia are not actually wastes of Australian origin
Orano explains about foreign nuclear waste https://actu.fr/economie/orano-sexplique-sur-dechets-nucleaires-etrangers_18903890.html
The 2017 report on the treatment of spent fuels from abroad gave rise to a debate on Thursday October 4 before the local information committee of Orano la Hague.Posted on 4 Oct 18 Without waiting for October 16 and the decision of the Judge of the Court of Cherbourg , which will rule in the dispute between Greenpeace and Orano , the issue of spent fuels Australian was on the agenda of the meeting of the local commission of information from Orano la Hague, this Thursday, October 4th.
“All the waste goes back to their country”Orano first presented its 2017 report on the treatment of spent fuels from abroad. These fuels, not yet treated, they represent only 0.4% of the 9 970 tonnes present at the end of last year in the pools of the establishment of La Hague.
Most of the fuel is actually owned by EDF. Less than 40 tonnes belong to Belgian, Italian and Dutch electricians.
And René Charbonnier, the deputy director of Orano, the hammer:
The principle is that all the ultimate waste goes back to their country.
He cites the example of Germany, for which the date of return of compacted waste, fixed by contract, is exceeded. Or Spain, where the deadline was December 21, 2011. Since then, Spanish electricians pay compensation.
If he does not mention any amount, the deputy director of Orano confirms:
The difficulty, says Greenpeace on the eve of a public debate on the national plan for radioactive materials and waste management , is that these countries have no or little solution for storing final waste.
No Mox for Australia
This is not the case of Australia . A first contract, signed in 1999 between Orano and the Australian agency Ansto, gave rise in 2015 to a first return of this waste. A new contract was awarded in 2016 .
It is in this context that 2 tonnes of spent fuel – 236 elements from the Opal research reactor – were landed on September 14 in Cherbourg .
Australia does not have a reactor that can run on Mox fuel from reprocessing. Under the terms of this contract, to which Greenpeace seeks legal access, uranium and plutonium, which account for 92% of the material weight, are purchased by Orano and reused to manufacture Mox.
As for the ultimate waste, they are vitrified with others. Yannick Rousselet observes:
It is not actually the initial material that is returned, but the equivalent in weight and radioactivity. Orano has it on the shelf, and could have sent it back immediately.Orano agrees: “Yes,” replied René Charbonnier.
Australian government grossly inflates the number of jobs to be needed at planned South Australian nuclear waste dump
Paul Edwards Fight To Stop Nuclear Waste Dump In Flinders Ranges SA, 5 Oct 18 The Centre de Stockage de l’Aube (CSA) radioactive waste facility in France handles over 200 times more waste per year compared to the proposed facility in SA yet it employs only four times as many staff as the proposed facility in SA. CSA processes 73 cubic metres (m3) per employee per year (13,164 m3 / 180 staff).The El Cabril radioactive waste facility in Spain has a staff of 137 people and processed an average of 1,395 m3 per year from 1993 to 2016. That equates to 10.2 m3 per employee per year.
Yet the Australian government estimates a workforce of 45 people to process 45 m3 per year: 1 m3 per employee per year compared to 10.2 in Spain and 73 in France. The government evidently has a dim view of the productivity of Australian workers, or, more likely, its jobs estimate is grossly inflated. SO there are other sites that would be happy to have the containated waste …………..DO NOT allow the Flinders Ranges SA to become another FUKUSHIMA………Nearly one million tons of water from the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant is still dangerously radioactive, according to Tokyo Electric Power…….PLEASE Fight To Stop Nuclear Waste Dump In Flinders Ranges SA
Labor Senator Gallacher joins the Labor-Liberal pro nuclear dance team
Katrina Bohr – No Nuclear Waste Dump Anywhere in South Australia Labor Senator Alex Gallacher made his interests quite clear on Friday at the Public hearing in Hawker.In a conversation, he declared there is no difference between transporting uranium or radioactive waste. He condones the continued export of nuclear medicines, which will feed the waste here.I felt during the proceedings that he wasn’t showing impartiality.
He made disparaging remarks about certain evidence presented during the day.
I like to know who.
Department of Industry, Innovation and Science – no resolution of dispute with Barngarla Aboriginal group. Submissions are still accepted
Statement on Australian Human Rights Commission conciliation meeting 2 OCTOBER 2018
https://radioactivewaste.gov.au/news/statement-australian-human-rights-commission-conciliation-meeting
The following can be attributed to a spokesperson for the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science:
“The department understands the Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation and District Council of Kimba have ended conciliation in the Australian Human Rights Commission without being able to resolve their differences,” said the spokesperson.
“Community consultation is central to this process, and the department is continuing to actively seek views about the National Radioactive Waste Management Facility. As the legal case between the two parties’ remains ongoing it is not possible at this point to fix a date for the closure of the consultative processes.
“However, we are mindful of the need to reach a decision on the current nominations as quickly as possible and the department thanks the communities around the three nominated sites for their patience.
“The Government continues to work to hear the views of all community members, including local residents, neighbours, business owners and Traditional Owners.
“This includes our direct work with Aboriginal communities both for and against the proposal, and surrounding all three sites currently under consideration.
“We are continuing to accept submissions, our community liaison officers continue to work on the ground and the department is continuing to visit the relevant communities.
“Anyone wanting more information about the project ahead of the decision on the three sites this year, can continue to drop in to one of our project offices, call, email or make a submission.”
For more information on the project, go to: www.radioactivewaste.gov.au
WA Indigenous community tries to rid water supply of unsafe level of uranium
Western Australian government refused to install water treatment plant due to size of Buttah Windee, Guardian, Calla Wahlquist, 3 Oct 18, An Aboriginal community in Western Australia is trying to raise money to fix its water supply, which contains unsafe levels of uranium.
Buttah Windee is a community of four houses about 3km from Meekatharra, a mining town that’s name means “place of little water” in the local Yamatji language.
It has 12 permanent residents and is supplied with bore water that is contaminated with uranium at more than twice the maximum safe level.
The WA government was notified of the uranium contamination in 2012 but refused to install a water treatment plant, saying the cost of doing so was “excessive given the small size of the community”.
Instead it put up signs warning residents not to drink or cook with the water and offered alternative public housing in Meekatharra itself.
Yamatji man Andrew Binsiar has been fighting to stay put. He has raised more than $10,000 through crowdfunding and an art auction and hopes to install a water filtration system to supply both the community and a new fish farm, which is part of a remote Indigenous employment program.
Binsiar discovered the uranium contamination nine years ago when all of the fish in his backyard koi pond died. He sent the water away to be tested and found that it had uranium levels of 0.04mg/L.
Health guidelines state that the maximum safe level is 0.017mg/L.
“I had it tested again this year, it’s still exactly the same,” Binsiar told Guardian Australia.
He installed a 9,000-litre tank on each house, which he fills with tap water from the town supply, to be used for drinking and cooking.
Uranium is a naturally occurring contaminant throughout parts of outback Australia.
A 2015 report by the state auditor general’s office found that the water in one in five remote Aboriginal communities in WA exceeded safe levels for nitrates or uranium.
The Department of Communities currently tests the water supply in 82 remote Aboriginal communities, and said it had seen a significant improvement in water quality since installing chlorine treatment units and reverse osmosis filtration systems in some communities.
“The community elected to continue to reside at Buttah Windee and accept responsibility for the provision of housing and associated services to residents,” assistant director Greg Cash said. “The department ceased providing management services in 2013 and has had no formal relationship with the community since then.”
Binsiar said: “They came and sat on the veranda over here and said they were going to put a bulldozer through my house and put be back into [public housing provider] Homeswest.”
In 2014, then premier Colin Barnett said up to 150 remote Aboriginal communities faced “closure” because they were “not viable” after the federal government withdrew municipal services funding.
The current government opposed that policy but has adopted the remote community reform process started under Barnett which focuses investment on larger communities. It has also cited funding woes linked to the end of the remote housing agreement.
Binsiar said many remaining residents – Wadjarri people and his wife’s extended family – had lived there since it was established on Wadjarri land in 1993.
He said the community was a safer place to raise children, away from the drug and alcohol issues of Meekatharra.
Unless the community’s water supply can be fixed, the new aquaculture enterprise, which is part of the federal community development program, will have to close.
“If we get this thing to a stage and we can’t fix the water, all the young fellas are going to say, ‘Oh, we have to get this far and then stop again’,” Binsiar said. “I want to show people that Australia is truly a generous, generous mob of people. If you are willing to work, people will help.”
1 This month
Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes – A good documentary on Chernobyl on SBS available On Demand for the next 3 weeks– https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-program/chernobyl-the-lost-tapes/235274195556
20 May – Webinar – The dangerous world of AUKUS, US, military occupation and suppression of dissent
National Webinar, 20th May, 2026, 6.30pm AEST. Confronting laws restricting/suppressing protest speech and action
Speakers: Former Sen. Rex Patrick, Lawyer Nick Hanna ,Arthur Rorris ,Jorgen Doyle, Sen David Shoebbridge,
Facilitator Kelley Tranter.
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 