SA government expands uranium mining
By Rob Graham
ADELAIDE — Plans are afoot for a major increase in uranium mining in South Australia, involving new mines at Beverley and Honeymoon, and the expansion of Roxby Downs to over twice its current output in the next few years.
Uranium was discovered at Beverley in 1969 and at Honeymoon in 1972. Draft environmental impact statements for both sites were prepared in the early 1980s.
The method of extraction planned for both is in situ leaching. The uranium at these sites is located in aquifers. Sulphuric acid is pumped underground to dissolve the uranium and then returned to the surface, where the uranium is recovered.
This method requires no excavation, so mining companies claim it is environmentally benign. It is also cheap.
The method is potentially devastating, because any loss of control of the leach solution could lead to contamination of the aquifer, or any connected aquifers. Tests at Honeymoon in 1982 were stopped because of problems controlling the movement of the solution.
In 1983, the state Labor government cancelled the Beverley and Honeymoon mines because of public opposition and its commitment to Roxby Downs, one of the allowable three under Labor's "three mines policy".
As of the end of July, no EIS had been submitted for the Beverley site, but this has not stopped a $4 million "trial" going ahead. This constitutes "the start of uranium mining at Beverley", according to Dr Dennis Matthews, spokesperson for the Conservation Council of SA Nuclear Issues Group.
Bipartisan support has ensured that amendments to the legislation that allowed Roxby to go ahead were fast-tracked through parliament. They allow processing of uranium and other minerals from other sites (meaning Beverley and Honeymoon, but also anywhere else) to be performed at Roxby.
No royalties are payable to the state government for anything processed at Roxby from outside the state, despite subsidies to the mining companies and free access to the water of the Great Artesian Basin. This opens the way for Roxby Downs to become the uranium processing capital of Australia.
Scant regard has been paid to the rights of the traditional owners of the land, most of whom oppose mining on their lands.
A major protest against the mine at Roxby — "Roxstop" — is being held from September 22 to October 3. The protest will support the Aboriginal communities affected by the mine. For more information, contact the Roxby Action Collective, PO Box 222 Fitzroy Vic 3065, or fax (03) 9416 2081.