Mine taskforce welcomed

TRADITIONAL owners have welcomed their involvement on a taskforce to investigate the tank collapse at the Ranger uranium mine in Kakadu National Park.

The Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation has been particularly vocal about its concerns since the leach tank collapse, which spilled an es- timated one million litres of toxic slurry last Saturday.

‘‘We welcome the Government’s proactive closure of operations at Ranger and believe that mining should remain suspended until the completion of this investigation and the subsequent implementation of all recommendations,’’ Gundjeihmi chief executive officer Justin O’Brien said.

‘‘ This inquiry must be given full access to ensure the condition of infrastructure and the rigour of procedures at this aging mine are fully scrutinised. We look forward to assisting with the appointment of an independent investigator.’’

Energy Resources Australia, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, is exploring a new underground mine and attempting to gain approval from the Gundjeihmi corporation, which represents the local Mirrar people.

ERA chief executive Andrea Sutton said the company would assist the taskforce and was co- operating with Commonwealth and Territory regulators.

On Friday the company met with regulators to discuss clean-up operations.

The company said that it had been advised by an expert structural engineer that the support structure surrounding the remaining leach tanks, and the tanks themselves, were structurally sound.

In a statement the company said: ‘‘monitoring at Ranger mine has shown radiation dose levels are well within safe daily limits and continu- ous water quality monitoring has confirmed creeks and billabongs surrounding Ranger mine have not been affected’’.

‘‘The leach tank incident released slurry in the site’s processing area, but the release was fully contained on site with no impact to Kakadu National Park.’’ Environmental groups have called for the mine to be closed in the wake of the incident.