Wave energy for South Australia
Wave power could roll in to South Australia’s west, ABC Rural News, 23/11/2010 Waves on the west coast of South Australia could soon be powering up towns in the region.Renewable energy technology company, Wave Rider Energy, will set up a pilot plant in the waters near Elliston.
The plant will turn the waves kinetic energy into mechanical energy, with a potential 250 kilowatts of power available………Wave power could roll in to South Australia’s west
World renowned Arkaroola Wilderness still threatened by uranium mining
Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary director Marg Sprigg says the overhaul of the state’s mining laws has done little to beef up environmental protection. “Unless further conditions are imposed in any licence to explore for uranium within Arkaroola, bulldozers can again move in, carving tracks through fragile environments and flattening steep slopes to create closely spaced drilling pads,”
Arkaroola mining measures criticised, The Advertiser, ADAM TODD November 22, 2010 ARKAROOLA Wilderness Sanctuary is still under threat from miners despite new laws aimed at penalising those who breach exploration and mining licences, the sanctuary’s director says. Continue reading
BHP shareholder opposes dangerous expansion of Olympic Dam uranium mine
The production of radioactive tailings waste is projected to increase from 10million tonnes each year to 68million tonnes. The tailings dams now rise more than 20m above the landscape and cover many square kilometres. BHP Billiton intends these tailings piles to increase to 60m high and to cover up to 44sqkm.
BHP Billiton’s uranium quest has too many risksJohn Poppins, Canberra Times, Nov 15, 2010 Thousands of ordinary Australians, including my own family have benefited from BHP Billiton’s mining success. However, like increasing numbers of BHP Billiton shareholders, we are troubled by the long-term effects of some aspects of its mining projects. Continue reading
Woomera ‘prohibited’ zone to have both uranium mining and weapons testing
The region is synonymous with the testing of long range missiles and rockets during the Cold War and is still used by the military for weapons testing. The Resources Minister Martin Ferguson said that the new recommendation is that the miners and the military would be both operating at some sections of the land on a time share basis.
Australia May Tap Restricted Area of Woomera for Natural Resources [uranium mining] Azomining, By Joel Scanlon, 9 Nov 10, The Woomera weapons testing range in South Australia’s outback will be downsized to allow mining in the region as per a federal government report recommendation. Vast restricted areas of South Australia will be opened up to mining companies including foreign investors if the review is considered favourably. Continue reading
John Durie of THE AUSTRALIAN recommends nuclear waste storage industry for South Australia
South Australia’s Rann could do everyone a favour by realising the best way to maximise growth in the state is to look at some sort of environmentally friendly nuclear waste storage in the state. – John Durie writes in THE AUSTRALIAN 5 Nov
“This could be a new industry for the country, and as much as the environmental benefits of nuclear power are questionable, it is another source of power which should go into the mix.
It just so happens BHP is sitting on tonnes of uranium, and it just so happens its boss Marius Kloppers is a big advocate of a carbon tax to get Australia on to the greenhouse combat zone efficiently.
Next stop is to start pushing for nuclear power in Australia, powered by the Big Australian, which it seems has got too big to buy anything of any size offshore…..”
South Australia’s Labor govt set to fail Aboriginal Maralinga victims’ quest for justice
Maralinga victims denied legal help, MELISSA MACK,
Oct 29, 2010, ABORIGINAL victims of nuclear testing in the 1950s are likely to be denied the chance of claiming millions of dollars in compensation, with the state Government refusing to help fund the legal case. Continue reading
BHP Billiton held accountable for environmental impacts of uranium mine expansion plan
Call on BHP to answer over Olympic Dam impacts, Australian Conservation Foundation, David Noonan, 16 Oct 10
- BHP must present feasible alternatives to prevent or reduce the impacts of the proposed Olympic Dam open cut mine in the next phase of the Environmental Impact Statement process, including: considering copper mining alone – without uranium exports; properly managing radioactive liquid wastes and tailings; using renewable energy for its large new electricity demands; and protecting the fragile gulf environment from impacts from the mine’s proposed water supply. Continue reading
Slowdown in BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam expansion plans
BHP May Consider Phased Olympic Dam Mine Expansion, Review Says By Jacob Greber Sept. 28 (Bloomberg) — BHP Billiton Ltd. told analysts it’s considering a revised expansion of its Olympic Dam copper- uranium mine in South Australia, the Australian Financial Review said. The company is considering a phased expansion, resulting in a slower increase in production than originally anticipated, the newspaper reported, without saying where it got the information. BHP May Consider Phased Olympic Dam Mine Expansion, Review Says – BusinessWeek
Warning on radiation hazard of Whyalla rare earths processing
“there are hazards related to the processing of these rare earths, not the least of which is radiation.”.
Australian Greens sounds grave alarm on Whyalla rare earths processing in SA – International Business Times, By Ricky Roxas | September 27, 2010 Australian Greens sounds grave alarm on Whyalla rare earths processing in SAThe Australian Greens party voiced out its concerns on Monday that the South Australian government may be rushing too much on the proposed rare earths processing plant in Whyalla following the state’s move of giving major project status to the planned $1 billion rare earths facility by Arafura Resources Ltd (ASX: ARU). Continue reading
Wobbly Word of the Week – “Rare Earths”
Yes – Rare Earths – What are they? The title sounds innocuous, and there’s no doubt that some “rare earths” are essential to many of today’s technology items.
It’s just that we should not lose sight of the radiation problems involved in mining and processing rare earths, nor let them slip under the radar as pro-uranium governments, like South Australia’s , promote the nuclear fuel cycle
Well, take the Arafura project below – this project includes a (small) commercial quantity of uranium product, and a large volume of thorium waste, enriched to ten times the radioactivity of the ore.
South Australian govt promotes rare earth complex
The Whyalla rare earths complex will process mineral concentrate from the Nolans project, in the Northern Territory.
Arafura’s rare earth complex gets priority status Mining Weekly, By: Esmarie Swanepoel, 24th September 2010 PERTH – Rare earth developer Arafura Resources on Friday announced that South Australia Urban Development and Planning Minister Paul Holloway had declared the Whyalla rare earths complex a major project….. Continue reading
Uranium mining project for Whyalla
UraniumSA triples resource for South Australian project near Whyalla to 10,400 tonnes of uranium oxide
– New Mullaquana Inferred estimate of 38.7Mt containing 10,400 tonnes of U3O8 (equivalent to 22.9 million pounds) at an average grade of 275 ppm eU3O8. – Up from initial estimate of 2,700t
South Australian Liberal Party will reject uranium mining in Arkaroola Wilderness
- “The state Liberal Party has decided very clearly that it will reject any move by the State Government to change the environmental status of Arkaroola
- Isobel Redmond vows to block uranium mining in the Arkaroola mining Adelaide Now, Daniel Wills, September 14, 2010 OPPOSITION Leader Isobel Redmond has declared her party will block any future moves to allow uranium mining in the Arkaroola Wildness Sanctuary. Continue reading
Prominent South Australian Liberals oppose uranium mining in Arkaroola
Several prominent Liberals strongly oppose mining in the Arkaroola area, including Senator Nick Minchin, former environment spokesperson Michelle Lensink and shadow treasurer Ian Evans.
Libs deadlocked on Arkaroola, The Independent Weekly, HENDRIK GOUT, 04 Sep 2010 The Liberal Party is has been unable to decide whether to support mining in the Arkaroola Wilderness. Continue reading
South Australan Liberals can’t decide on uranium mining in Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary
The Greens are trying to legislate to ban mining in the outback wilderness sanctuary.
Liberals defer decision on Arkaroola mining – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), Sep 1, 2010 The South Australian Liberal Party has deferred a decision on whether to support a ban on mining at Arkaroola in the Flinders Ranges.
The Greens are trying to legislate to ban mining in the outback wilderness sanctuary.
A Liberal Party conference at Port Lincoln has discussed the issue, but Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond says a decision is yet to be made because some party members who were not present may want to have a say…….
Liberals defer decision on Arkaroola mining – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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