MEDIA RELEASES
NUCLEAR FREE AUSTRALIA
Media release
Monday 30 May 2005
D-Day for Toxic Trader: Anti-Nuclear Protestors target WMC Annual Meeting
Against a backdrop of uncertainty over BHP Billiton's takeover offer anti nuclear protestors will highlight the impacts of uranium mining and urge WMC to abandon the planned expansion of its Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam) uranium mine in South Australia at the company's annual meeting in Melbourne today.
WMC is currently planning a massive expansion of its copper/uranium mine at Roxby Downs that would mean a new five square kilometre open cut pit, a tripling of annual uranium exports from 4.5 to 15 thousand tonnes and a tripling of water usage and waste creation – a toxic trifecta.
WMC claims it needs some $5 billion of funds for this project and the BHP Billiton offer values WMC at around $9.2 billion. BHP Billiton's takeover offer is due to lapse on Friday (3 June) unless BHP Billiton achieves acceptances for more than 50% of WMC shares.
“Despite repeated appeals by the directors of WMC it seems that shareholders are reluctant to sell. No other offers appear forthcoming and it is possible that the offer will lapse. This mine has a high price – but it has a far higher cost: it will be a toxic legacy for all future generations,” said Hillel Freedman a spokesperson for the Nuclear Free Australia group.
The controversial Roxby mine has produced a staggering amount of radioactive waste – 60 million tones of toxic tailings, a legacy currently growing by around 10 million tonnes a year. 80% of the original radioactivity of the ore remains in the tailings, posing serious management problems.
The mine now uses over 30 million litres of water a day from the Great Artesian Basin . To accommodate the planned expansion WMC wants to increase its water take to up ton 100 million litres per day from the Great Artesian Basin and/or a desalination plant. The Great Artesian Basin supports many mound springs – unique arid land habitats that have world-class natural and cultural significance. These springs support unique, rare and delicate micro flora and fauna and have been adversely affected by WMC's water take. They are also culturally significant for the Arabanna, the traditional Aboriginal custodians of the land where the mound springs are located.
“WMC is a voracious user of water and a massive producer of waste,” said Hillel Freedman. “Uranium causes problems and pollution when it is mined and at every point that follows. It is the building block of nuclear weapons and nuclear waste and any moves to expand this toxic trade will be actively opposed.”
What: Anti-Nuclear presence/protest at WMC annual meeting
Where: Melbourne Function Centre access ramp, Melbourne Park (Melways ref 44 A10)
When: From 8:30 am today (Monday 30 May)
Contact: Hillel Freedman 0417 506 150
http://www.nukefreeaus.org
ARCHIVES