ALP approves new uranium mine

The Federal ALP government announced the establishment of a fourth uranium mine in Australia, following through on its 2007 decision to abandon the "3 mines" policy which it adopted in the 1980's. The Four Mile mine, 550 kilometres north of Adelaide, will open next year after winning clearance from federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett. Four Mile will be Australia's first new uranium mine in close to a decade and the 10th biggest in the world. Its predicted annual production of about 1400 tonnes, it will boost national output by 13 per cent to 12,100 tonnes. The mine is 75 per cent owned by US company Heathgate (a subsidary of nuclear and arms manufactures General Atomics) and 25 per cent by Ian Gandel's locally-listed Alliance Resources.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/garrett-gives-nod-to-uranium-mine-2009...

Much of the media attention has focussed on the galling sell out by Peter Garrett on this issue, however this in my opinion only serves as a distraction from the committment of the ALP to massively expand the uranium industry in the near future and lay the groundwork for building nuclear waste dumps and even nuclear power in this country.

Unsurprising the mine is also being built on indigenous land without the approval of local people. Members of the Adnyamathanha Aboriginal community in South Australia's Flinders Ranges say they are outraged that their voices have not been heard during negotiations for the Four Mile uranium mine.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/15/2626379.htm?section=business

The ALP and the Liberals are in agreement in wanting to expand the uranium industry. However as usual it is under ALP governments that things often get worse. Despite the best efforts of the Liberals the uranium industry did not grow that much in their 12 years in office, but the ALP is making quick work approve more mines. Bob Brown and the Greens have been the only politicians to speak out against the mine. Bob Brown told ABC1's Lateline program he is horrified the mine has been approved without an adequate environmental assessment.

"The go-ahead without an environmental impact assessment of the first order has been given to this mine by a wholly owned corporation, for a process that would be banned, and is banned in the United States, but which is going to do huge damage for an untold time to come," he said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/15/2625957.htm?section=australia

The big uranium developments that could triple Australia's annual uranium exports to 30,000 tonnes are much further off. BHP plans to triple output at Olympic Dam — the world's biggest deposit — and is investigating developing the Yeelerrie deposit in Western Australia. Canada's Cameco and Japan's Mitsubishi also want to develop the WA Kintyre deposit.

Dave Sweeney the anti-nuclear campaigner made the point the mine will help to fuel global tensions over nuclear weapons. "Do we want to be fuelling nuclear uncertainties around the world, particularly at the time we're living in right now with those uncertainties growing?" he asked.

This mine and all uranium mines are madness. Contributing to the nuclear fuel can only help fuel nuclear proliferation in the long run and continue the threat of nuclear annihilation. This mine like others in Australia is creating a toxic legacy on indigenous land. Nuclear power is a false solution to climate change when cutting energy consumption and renewable energy provides an answer with NO environmental or social downsides.

NO URANIUM MINING - LEAVE IT IN THE GROUND!
CLOSE OLYMPIC DAM, BEVERLY, RANGER, HONEYMOON and FOUR MILE MINES!