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
Sanctuary ‘ignored’ on mining exploration ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Feb 4, 2011 Arkaroola wilderness manager says she has been ignored on mining exploration Continue reading
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
Judge rules for Aboriginal landowners against mining company
`The native title in the land of the traditional owners in preventing mining are significant and genuine,” he said…. ‘the Kokatha people’s genuine, longstanding and consistently voiced opposition to mining weighed against approval.’
SA judge’s blow to Straits, Argonaut | Perth Now, 17 Jan 2011, A SOUTH Australian court has denied Straits Resources and its joint venture partner Argonaut Resources the rights to explore a region around Lake Torrens. Continue reading
Public anger at uranium mining exploration in Arkaroola Wilderness
Letters: Public opinion on mining Adelaide Now, 23 Dec 10,
Under the radar THE Government’s decision to allow miner Marathon Resources back into Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary shows a total disregard towards community opinion…..MATTHEW TURNERMiners broke laws …..Why grant a proven criminal the right to act, yet again, in the same area?… HORST WEBER
To come home to SA for Christmas and read about mining in Arkaroola makes me sad and angry... Stand up, be vocal. Be strong, SA….. LEW DUNGEY
Greedy politicians GREED knows no bounds….. KON KOURTEFF
Pressure of Chinese...Who cares of what the likes of John Quirke, Chris Schacht and Paul Howes put forward? Their self-interests are quite apparent…. JOHN HILLIER
Lobbyists in charge MORE and more unelected, unsolicited lobbyists are running policy debates….. RAY HILL,
Short-term profits …… There is more to life than money, Mr Rann, and more to life than self-serving companies like Marathon destroying this precious natural resource. It’s not too late to change your mind…….ADAM FURBANK
Hypocrisy of Labor …..SO the senior SA Labor heavyweights encouraging uranium mining at Arkaroola are now exposed (The Advertiser, 21/12/10). ……PATRICK NEVILLE
Perverse resilience I AM horrified that Mike Rann and his Government have extended Marathon’s lease at Arkaroola for another year, particularly in light of its illegal activities…..Where are our strong leaders when we need them? Obviously not in South Australia. ALISON DORN Letters: Public opinion on mining | Adelaide Now
Labor heavies and Chinese interests push for uranium mining in Arkaroola wilderness
Labor powerbroker and union heavyweight Paul Howes has also lent his support to mining in Arkaroola……”Greens MLC Mark Parnell said the project was being pushed by “a conga-line of Labor luminaries”. “The only reason it is still alive is due to powerful and influential lobbying by ALP mates,”
- Labor mates’ lobbying a ‘threat’ to Arkaroola | Adelaide Now, Sarah Martin, December 21, 2010 POWERFUL lobbyists connected to the Labor Party are winning the fight to mine Arkaroola, say the directors of its wilderness sanctuary. Continue reading
South Australian govt weak on protecting Arkaroola from uranium mining
Marathon Resources gets conditional approval for uranium exploration at Arkaroola * Andrew Main * The Australian * December 21, 2010 MARATHON Resources has been given the green light by the South Australian government to resume exploration for uranium. Continue reading
Eyre Peninsula wants involvement in wind farm planning
“There is currently no published scientific evidence to positively link wind turbines with adverse health effects”….There is no evidence of wind farms having a negative effect on property values
EPLGA wants more involvement in planning Rural Report for West Coast: ABC Rural, December 16, 2010, Port Lincoln The Eyre Peninsula Local Government Association is not against any proposed wind farms in the region and has said locals aren’t either.The association wants to pursue more renewable energy options, but they want to be more involved in the planning process. Continue reading
Olympic Dam copper mine would be a goer without uranium recovery
expanding the project without uranium recovery was “clearly a realistic and technically feasible development option” but was not considered in BHP’s draft environmental impact statement for the upgrade.
South Australian govt bias in favour of BHP’s uranium mine
Acting Premier Paul Holloway said “It is top priority as far as the Government is concerned.”
Olympic Dam expansion our ‘highest priority’ | Adelaide Now, Christopher Russell, 3 Dec 10, TECHNICAL experts will spend the next eight weeks scrutinising more than 15,000 pages of data which address public and government concerns about the expansion of Olympic Dam. Continue reading
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