Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

Olympic Dam will cause radioactive dust risk to Eastern Australia

Radioactive dust storm threat’ if mine goes ahead
ABC News 24 Sept 09 An Academy Award-nominated documentary maker claims the red dust dumped onto east coast cities yesterday is a reason to be concerned about BHP Billiton’s proposal to turn South Australia’s Olympic Dam uranium mine into an open-cut mine.

David Bradbury has made four documentaries on the nuclear issue and says figures in the company’s environmental impact study suggest that 70 million tonnes of radioactive tailings will be dumped at the minesite each year.

He says these tailings contain alpha radiation, which is known to be carcenogenic to humans and animals.
“My grave concern is that with the open-cut mine expansion that BHP Billiton wants permission from state and federal governments to go ahead with, that the radioactive tailings left behind will blow over the eastern coast centres of the most populated cities of Australia,” he said

‘Radioactive dust storm threat’ if mine goes ahead – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

September 24, 2009 Posted by | 1, environment, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Four Mile uranium mine delayed, for at least months

Four Mile mine’s four-month setback

Matt Chambers | September 22, 2009

Article from: The Australian

WORK on what is expected to be the nation’s next uranium mine, the Four Mile project in South Australia, has been set back by at least four months Continue reading

September 23, 2009 Posted by | business, South Australia, uranium | , , , | Leave a comment

Uranium mining abuses Great Artesian Basin

BHPB-Olympic‘Corporate abuse’ hits Great Artesian Basin
The Australian. Michael Owen, SA political reporter | September 21, 2009

THE Great Artesian Basin — one of the largest underground water reservoirs in the world — is in danger of going the same way as the ailing Murray-Darling Basin because of reckless corporate abuse, aided by political ignorance, says South Australian senator Nick Xenophon. Continue reading

September 21, 2009 Posted by | 1, environment, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Olympic Dam uranium mine: future uncertain

BHP’s dam dilemma: costs rise
The Age BARRY FITZGERALD September 9, 2009
BHP Billiton’s proposed expansion of the Olympic Dam copper/uranium/gold mine in South Australia’s outback is set to become the most expensive ever, with analysts estimating an all up cost of $US15-$US20 billion ($17.4-$23.2 billion)…… Continue reading

September 10, 2009 Posted by | 1, business, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Marathon uranium exploration waste dump was radioactive

wastesWaste, not bags, the problem: Greens
ABC News 8 Sept 09
Greens MP Mark Parnell has challenged a claim by Marathon Resources that waste it dumped illegally at Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary was not radioactive……. Continue reading

September 8, 2009 Posted by | South Australia, uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Protest against Marathon uranium explorer, but will South Aust govt listen?

Marathon fight over what lies beneath the Flinders Ranges
THE AUSTRALIAN Pia Akerman and Michael Owen |
September 07, 2009

“………………..The anti-Marathon lobby is made up of an array of strange bedfellows including greenies, scientists, tourists and politicians – most notably federal Liberal heavyweight Nick Minchin, who, as resources minister, approved the nearby Beverley uranium mine. Continue reading

September 7, 2009 Posted by | politics, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Staggering size of environmental problems for BHPB’s uranium mine expansion

uraniumholeMega-everything: the world’s biggest open cut mine

OnLine opinion By Sandra Kanck – 24 August 2009

The expansion of the Olympic Dam mine at Roxby Downs will see environment as the biggest loser. The draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), for which public comment closed early in August 2009, has serious deficiencies. Continue reading

September 5, 2009 Posted by | environment, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Uranium sales to China ramped up as China’s nuke weapons ramp up

weapons1China prepares to show off nuclear missiles- South Australia and China move forward together

China will parade five new missiles in a show of military prowess on the 60th anniversary of Communist Party rule. Continue reading

September 4, 2009 Posted by | South Australia, uranium, weapons and war | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Location of BHP Billiton’s proposed desalination plant opposed

Australian environment body calls for shifting of BHP Billiton’s desalination plant domain-b.com news 24 August 2009
Environmental concerns over mining major, BHP Billiton’s expansion plans at Roxy Downs have come to the fore with the Australian Conservation Foundation calling for the shifting of a desalination plant from Upper Spencer Gulf in South Australia………………………
According to Dave Noonan from the foundation, the company has no choice but to shift the plant to address the environmental and other concerns. He added that the company should accept that a desalination at the planned location would not be allowed and that they would not be allowed to design a mine to leak millions of liters of radioactive waste a day.

domain-b.com : Australian environment body calls for shifting of BHP Billiton’s desalination plant

September 2, 2009 Posted by | South Australia, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Olympic Dam uranium mine expansion will go ahead, no matter what?

SA assures BHP Billiton on Olympic Dam environmental concerns

Business Spectator 25 August 09

The South Australian government has raised a number of environmental concerns with BHP Billiton Ltd about its planned $20 billion expansion of Olympic Dam, but assured the miner the proposal is not under threat……………

The $20 billion project will convert the underground mine into a massive open pit through an excavation of rock and waste material that will take around six years to complete………….

“None of the issues that have been highlighted by the government authorities are dealbreakers,” acting Premier Kevin Foley told the newspaper.

Business Spectator – News – SA assures BHP Billiton on Olympic Dam environmental concerns

September 2, 2009 Posted by | politics, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Liberals join Greens against some uranium mining in South Australia

Greens, Libs fight wilderness mining

ABC News 2 Sept 09

The Greens and Liberals are joining forces to urge the South Australian Government to keep mining out of Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in the Flinders Ranges. Continue reading

September 2, 2009 Posted by | politics, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Will South Aust govt really enforce conditions on Roxby Downs uranium mine expansion?

South Australian govt calls on BHPB to fix gaps in Olympic Dam Environmental Impact Statement

Carbon + Environment

25 August 2009

The South Australian Government has called on BHP Billiton to fix inadequacies in its draft EIS for the proposed expansion of its Olympic Dam mine. Continue reading

August 25, 2009 Posted by | politics, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

South Australia Sets Sights On Exporting Renewable Energy

South Australia Sets Sights On Exporting Renewable Energy
Energy Matters 26 August 09
South Australian Premier Mike Rann recently unveiled a plan to see renewable energy sourced power generated in South Australia exported to the nation’s eastern states. Continue reading

August 25, 2009 Posted by | energy, South Australia | , , | Leave a comment

Key environmental concerns over BHP Billiton’s Roxby Downs uranium mine

CHRISTOPHER RUSSELL, BUSINESS EDITOR, and GREG KELTON, WASHINGTONAugust 24, 2009 
KEY environmental concerns about the multibillion-dollar expansion of the Olympic Dam mine must be fixed by BHP Billiton before the mine proceeds. Continue reading

August 24, 2009 Posted by | environment, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Beverly Four Mile uranium mine- “world’s worst practice”

handsoff

Uranium mine called ‘World’s worst practice’

The Flinders News 21/08/2009

Uranium mining in the far north of South Australia at the Beverley location near Arkaroola Wilderness Resort is being openly challenged by Aboriginal Traditional Owner Mrs Enice Marsh. Continue reading

August 22, 2009 Posted by | aboriginal issues, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment