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Uranium explorer’s dumping plan blocked – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Uranium explorer’s dumping plan blocked

ABC News 10 Sept 08 A council has now decided to ban uranium explorer Marathon Resources from dumping any waste at the Hawker dump in the northern Flinders Ranges of South Australia.

The company wants to dump waste including industrial clothing, calico and plastic bags and cardboard from its uranium exploration site in the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary.

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) said it would ensure that none of the waste was radioactive before it was dumped.

Flinders Ranges Council CEO Lee Connors says a meeting last night decided to ban any use of Hawker dump, because residents wanted that.

“The advice from the EPA and their radiation group was available to the council but at the end of the day it really meant nothing,” he said…………………………………..

Marathon had its drilling licence suspended last February after buried waste in calico and plastic bags was found in the wilderness sanctuary late last year.

Marg Sprigg, from Arkaroola sanctuary, says Marathon should have known how people would feel about its waste dumping plan.

“When it leaves here it’s supposed to be, you know, of no threat at all to the community but the fact that the Leigh Creek dump – the dump of a mining town – wouldn’t take it and then it was to go to Hawker, I do find surprising that they thought a local community would be willing to accept it if a mining town doesn’t,” she said.

Uranium explorer’s dumping plan blocked – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Tags: nuclear antinuclear, radioactive, uranium

September 10, 2008 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | wastes