WA Greens Senator Scott Ludlam and Robin Chapple MLC have today questioned the EPA’s approval for preparatory works at the proposed Mulga Rock uranium mine, which is yet to be approved and currently subject to an appeal.
“Today’s approval for preparatory works at Mulga Rocks exposes the sham of the assessment and appeals process; the EPAs decision today is at odds with the intention of the Environmental Protection Act 1986,” Mr Chapple said.
“There has been serious public backlash against the project reflected in numerous appeals being lodged against the project, including from Traditional Owners and people in the local community.
“There is a race on in WA to get uranium mines approved before the State election. This ambition is ridiculous given the widespread opposition to the industry and the market conditions which are prohibitive to new mines.”
“World-wide we’re seeing uranium mines close and others put in to care and maintenance. Vimy Resources may have some political influence and big benefactors like Andrew Forrest, but none of these things will make this mine profitable or socially acceptable,” Senator Ludlam said.
“The EPA’s response to Vimy’s aggressive approach to starting this mine is not just a demonstration of a poor and non-transparent process, it is a slap in the face for the public and local community that have engaged in good faith in a process which is in essence a fait accompli.
“While the process is broken, the resolve of communities to fight this project is very much alive and well.”
For more information please contact Tim Oliver on 08 9486 8255 or 0431 9696 25
Well done to the Environmental Protection Authority for a sensible science-based recommendation against Cameco’s proposed uranium mine at Yeelirrie (Race for Yeelirrie go-ahead before election, 04/08).
It is to be hoped that the Environment Minister respects this intelligent decision and withstands any pressure from within Cabinet or the industry to override it.
If it is correct that would-be WA uranium miners are racing to get projects approved by the Barnett Government before the March State election, then it would be timely to hear from the WA ALP on their stance on this flagging, dangerous industry.
The Greens’ opposition to uranium mining is well known and consistent.
Within a State election eight months away, the electorate has a right to know if the Premier is correct when he claims that the ALP, if it won Government, would not stop a uranium mine proposal that had already been sign off by this Government.
WA Greens Mining spokesperson Robin Chapple MLC said comments made this week by the Australian Conservation Foundation on the potential “toxic legacy” of failing to properly rehabilitate mine sites were particularly relevant for WA.
“Western Australia already has a terrible legacy of more than 18,000 abandoned mine sites – that’s more than 35 per cent of all abandoned mines in Australia,” Mr Chapple said.
“Mineral Policy Institute’s new report has found that most of these mine closures are unplanned and a result of economic and market forces - it’s something I’ve been talking about since first coming into office in 2001.
“Whilst the state government’s Mining Rehabilitation Fund (MRF) has the potential to be an effective measure to deal with the issue of abandoned mine sites, this system must be in tandem with a bond system over active mine projects.
“Recently, the Victorian government announced a plan to increase the environmental bonds over high-risk La Trobe valley coal projects to 100% of estimated rehabilitation cost over the next 18 months.
“Western Australia has done the exact opposite, retiring over a $1 billion worth of bonds in favour of a one per cent levy that has accumulated just $57 million to date.
“We need a stronger bond system reinstated to accurately reflect the high risk nature of mineral extraction in today’s volatile economic climate, particularly in the fossil fuel industry, and we need to increase the MRF levy to fix the massive problem we already have
“This is not a new problem for our state, but it has been on the backburner for way too long.”
A link to the Mineral Policy Institute Report can be found below.
For comment please contact Tim Oliver on 0431 9696 25 or 9486 8255.
Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region, Robin Chapple MLC, has questioned the credibility of the Environmental Protection Agency.
“The latest revelation that EPA board member Jim Limerick has a conflict of interest leaves me seriously questioning their ability to protect the environment” Mr Chapple said.
“I find it remarkable that Mr Limerick was even appointed in the first place, not only did he have an obvious interest with Fremantle Ports, he was formerly the Director General of Industry and Resources and previously CEO of the Department of Industry & Resources.”
Further on 25 June 1994, the Environmental Protection Authority advertised in the West Australian its intention of conducting the Public Environmental Review of the Burrup Peninsula Industrial Plan, subsequently after pressure from the then acting chief executive officer of DRD Jim Limerick, Dr Steedman the head of the EPA agreed to withdraw the proposed assessment.
Mr Limerick at that time in a Fax to the EPA said “we are doing everyone a favour by asking the Minister to return the proposal to the Environmental Protection Authority to review its decision [to assess the Burrup]”
How can we appoint someone to the Authority who actively undermined an EPA assessment in 1994?
“The fact that inappropriate appointments keeps occurring make me wonder whether the membership process is broken.”
“The EPA should be appointing members with actual environmental backgrounds who have real environmental concerns not consultants and former pro industry government officials.”
“I will be asking questions in parliament these coming weeks to find out how many projects are at risk from further conflicts of interest.”
See: EX PARTE CHAPPLE -v- THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY & ORS - Case No: CIV:1879/1994
For comment please contact Robin Chapple 0409 379 263.
WA Greens Energy spokesperson Robin Chapple MLC has labelled Minister Marmion’s latest plug in support of uranium mining in Western Australia as ‘seriously flawed’.
“The WA Greens will not accept uranium mining in this state any more than we will accept Mr Marmion’s premise for asking us too,” Mr Chapple said.
“Contrary to Mr Marmion’s statements I’d say that the Paris Conference didn’t really lend much hope to the nuclear industry and came out strongly in support of renewable energy as the best way to tackle future energy crises and climate change.
“And, there is a whole host of other factors not being considered here. Vast amounts of concrete are used to build a nuclear reactor, one of the most energy intensive processes known to man.
“Nuclear waste must be stored for decades once it has been spent and as a producer, we would understandably be expected to share this burden.
“I think it’s unlikely there will be an increase in global demand for uranium either. The rate at which nuclear reactors are being shutdown far exceeds the rate at which they are being built and it is difficult to imagine that status quo changing.
“Uranium mining is not a small, low-impact commitment but a long term responsibility that will have implications for generations after the mine is no longer producing.”
Since 2011 the Walkatjurra Walkabout has served as an important stand against Uranium mining and Nuclear energy in Western Australia.
Comprising many concerned citizens from Australia and around the world the walkabout is just as much a celebration of country as a protest against its destruction.
The Walkatjurra community will never stop fighting because the consequences of losing are far too great.
WA Greens Nuclear spokesperson Robin Chapple MLC said Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was rubbing salt into old wounds after comments this week about possibility of storing nuclear waste in Australia.
“In 1999, Pangea Resources identified land near Cosmo Newbury as the only suitable place in Australia to store long-lived nuclear waste; By making these comments it’s reasonable to assume the Prime Minister is once again putting WA in the firing line,” Mr Chapple said.
“The management structure of Pangea still exists in a corporation called Arius and under the leadership of Charles McCombie* they have continued to target WA as a location for an international nuclear waste dump.
“I would be very interested to know if there have been any discussions between the Arius group with either Mr Turnbull or Dr Alan Finkel on the possibility of reigniting this proposal.
“I would not be surprised considering Arius made a submission in July this year to the South Australian Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission, where the notion of dumping waste in WA was floated once more.
“This is a dangerous and unnecessary industry, desperate to hide its festering waste out of sight and out of mind here.
“Both the Liberal and National parties in WA have also thrown support behind the idea over the years with now Premier Colin Barnett, a strong supporter of Uranium mining, commenting in 1999 that countries who export uranium have an obligation to dispose of that waste.
“And former National Party Leader, Brendon Grylls, calling for nuclear storage in WA to be a part of the uranium mining debate in 2008.
“I said it then, and I will say again now; the notion of storing international nuclear waste in remote WA is an affront to the traditional owner’s and cultural significance of that land that will leave us with a nuclear legacy and problem for a long, long time.”
