Protesters gather at mine site (uranium)

July 16, 2010
AAP

An anti-nuclear protester has chained himself to a four-wheel-drive blocking the road to BHP Billiton's Olympic Dam uranium mine in South Australia's far north.

About 40 protesters gathered at the mine site on Friday afternoon with the group mostly students from NSW.

Spokeswoman Jay Fletcher said the group did not intend to leave until they had spoken with a representative from the mine.

"We'll stay here as long as that takes," she said.

Ms Fletcher said their action had stopped a large truck from entering the BHP Billiton site.

A police spokeswoman confirmed the protest and said it had been orderly so far.

"Not only is the expansion at Olympic Dam going ahead without the consent of traditional owners, but tens of thousands of gigalitres of water per day is being sucked out of the Artesian Basin on Arabunna land to service the mine," he said.

"Australia is the driest continent on the earth and faces a massive water shortage.

"It is ludicrous that we are literally exporting our sacred and precious water."

Read more:
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/protesters-gather-at-mine-site-20100716-10dvy.html