South Australian govt wants to enrich uranium in S.A.
In a bullish speech to a uranium conference in Adelaide, Mr Koutsantonis dubbed the reaction to the Fukushima crisis as ”hysteria”, and said nuclear power remained “the path for the future”..
SA call for uranium enrichment at home, Sydney Morning Herald, Peter Ker, Adelaide, March 22, 2011A SPECULATION about the demise of the uranium industry has been fiercely challenged by the South Australian government, which yesterday suggested Australia should expand its relationship with uranium to include domestic enrichment Continue reading
Australian designed renewable energy car around world in 80 days
Australia’s green car completes world tour in $400, Sify News, 2011-02-28 A two-seater renewable energy vehicle crossed the finish line of a global zero emissions race covering 16 countries and 30,000 km in 80 days in only $400.The Google-sponsored car Team Trev arrived at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Sunday night.
Initially designed by University of South Australia (UniSA) and driven by UniSA researchers, the three-wheeled electric machine was Australia’s only representative in the first zero emission global race for vehicles powered by renewable energy…….Clean electricity for the around-the-world trip cost us about $400, so it’s really cheap to run as well as clean – it makes you wonder why we are still driving around in petrol cars because we’ve shown it is possible to do it differently,’ he said……Australia`s green car completes world tour in $400
The devious politics of uranium mining – example Arkaroola
To thread their way through environmental protection laws and keep Marathon investing, supporters of mining in the sanctuary have performed a range of unedifying gymnastics.
For years, Labor has joined with Marathon in a flagrant misreading of the SA Development Plan.
SA Labor buckling on Arkaroola uranium?, Green Left Weekly, February 27, 2011By Renfrey Clarke,”……….As insurance against lingering environmentalism among government ministers, Marathon — one of whose largest shareholders is the Chinese mining group CITIC — has brought a suite of former Labor politicians on board. Continue reading
South Australian govt under pressure over Arkaroola’s environment
Some of the worst effects would be on the region’s scant groundwater resources….five million litres of water a day for mining and processing. “That’s a heck of a lot of water in a very dry environment,”
SA Labor buckling on Arkaroola uranium?, Green Left Weekly, February 27, 2011, By Renfrey Clarke, Adelaide Under heavy public pressure, the South Australian government of Labor Premier Mike Rann appears to be wavering in its support for mining uranium in the Arkaroola wilderness in the state’s north. Continue reading
Stacked pro nuclear panel, stacked audience, in Adelaide?
both the panel and the audience seemed to be composed entirely of nuclear energy supporters. Renewable energy was dismissed as irrelevant, there was virtually no mention of nuclear accidents, and Brook patronisingly dismissed community concerns about the location of nuclear plants as “juvenile”.
Greenhouse gas emissions linked to climate change, CPA – The Guardian, Peter Mac, 23 February 2011 ” ……. In a recent TV panel discussion (ABC 24, 19-02-2011), Adelaide University Professor Barry Brook argued strongly for Australia to develop a nuclear power industry based around fast nuclear reactors. Continue reading
S.A. govt should come clean on Arkaroola uranium mining policy
Creating a national park would give the SA Premier a boost in the polls, with mining in the sanctuary highly unpopular among voters. However, converting the land to national park would not affect the mining lease. Marathon was recently granted a 12-month extension to its licence at Arkaroola.
National park rumours take toll on SA uranium miner | The Australian, Verity Edwards and Damon Kitney February 21, 2011 1 The value of controversial mining company Marathon Resources has fallen by $4.9 million amid speculation the Rann government will declare the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary a national park. Continue reading
Arkaroola to be a National Park, perhaps not with uranium mining?
Clearly, there is overwhelming public opposition to mining in Arkaroola.
Editorial: Sentiment holds sway for Arkaroola | Adelaide Now, 18 Feb 2011, THE expected decision to declare the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary a national park is a welcome move. Continue reading
BHP Billiton to decide on Olympic Dam expansion in 2012
BHP Billiton to return $US10b to shareholders, Sydney Morning Herald, 16 Feb 2011, BHP Billiton plans to pour $US80 billion ($80.2 billion) into expansions over the next five years and return cash to investors rather than chase ambitious takeovers, after nearly doubling its first-half profit to a record……
BHP’s $US80 billion expansion plan over the next five years includes expanding its Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine in Australia, with a decision expected in 2012,…..
BHP’s record of safety failures in Australia
In June last year, BHP was fined more than $75,000 over the death of a worker at Olympic Dam, after it ignored its own safety rules….In 2008-9, five people died at BHP’s West Australian iron ore operations and another in 2009-10 at a WA nickel mine.
BHP may face safety charge Matt Chambers The Australian * February 15, 2011 BHP Billiton could be charged over a 2009 Olympic Dam mine accident Continue reading
South Australian facing opposition on Arkaroola uranium mining
The Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary is a recognised sanctuary under the South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Act and is an “Environmental Class A Zone” under the Development Act.
Uranium threat to pristine sanctuary, Green Left, February 13, 2011 By Sean Brocklehurst, Adelaide
“…..It isn’t often that socialists, Greens, Liberals and NGOs agree on an issue. But that is the case regarding uranium exploration in the Arkaroola region in the Flinders Ranges, 700 kilometres north of Adelaide. Continue reading
South Australian Labor rejects nuclear power
“Nuclear reactors are traditionally more expensive to build than traditional energy sources and have significant environmental and cost issues associated with long-term storage and management of high level nuclear waste.
“The economics of nuclear power do not add up.
Labor blocks nuclear power bid for state, Adelaide Now Daniel Wills February 11, 2011 LABOR has blocked a push for South Australia to consider nuclear power to meet energy demands. Continue reading
South Australian govt allows uranium company to despoil unique wilderness
Senator Minchin described it as one of the most reckless decisions of the state Labor government…Wilderness Society environmental scientist Matt Turner said most South Australians were opposed to mining in Arkaroola.
Minchin blasts Flinders Ranges mining permit, Sydney Morning Herald, February 7, 2011 Uranium explorer Marathon Resources has had its licence renewed to operate in the sensitive Arkaroola region of South Australia’s Flinders Ranges. Continue reading
Uranium exploration: South Australian Government ignoring Arkaroola Wilderness
Doubts on the value of desalination plant for Adelaide
Given the plant will be one of the top 10 users of electricity in the state, Parnell wants the Government to commission an equivalent amount of new renewable energy to put into the grid……Gulf is being exposed to further damage to its marine life and sea grasses from excessive salinity and ultimately deoxygenated water………….
Will desal be worth its salt? | Adelaide Now, 22 Jan 2011, “……….The plant’s appetite is enormous. While Port Stanvac is better than some, it still takes 2.1 litres of seawater to produce a litre of fresh.When fully operational at the end of next year, the 100GL plant will suck in around 260 Olympic swimming pools of seawater a day and transform them into 120 swimming pools of clean water.The unwanted 140 pools of hyper-saline waste will be dispersed in the Gulf through an outfall pipe 2.5km out to sea………….. Continue reading
Will South Australia sacrifice a national wilderness to a uranium company’s greed?
ARKAROOLA IS:
• on the Register of the National Estate
• a recognised geological monument,
• a Sanctuary under the National Parks & Wildlife Act
• an Environmental Class A zone under the Development Act
LET’S STAND UP FOR ARKAROOLA!, Amanda Rowe, 21 Jan 2011,
In 2007 mining company Marathon Resources had its exploration licence suspended after illegally dumping 22,800 bags of radioactive waste in Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary and stealing Fluorite from a site classified as a Geological monument. Continue reading
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