Comments: Facts: "Given the vast amounts of radioactive sludge (or 'tailings') involved in uranium mining, the impact of inevitable extreme weather events slamming into mine sites with many hectares of tailings risks radioactive sludge spreading over vast distances in our state. "
October 23, 2013
Rio Tinto's Ranger uranium mine in the Northern Territory. Photo: Glenn Campbell This week marks one year since the Newman government breaking its pre-election promise by overturning Queensland's ban on uranium mining – without any mandate to do so.
Queenslanders across the state should be deeply worried about the dangers of mining and transporting uranium yellow cake due to the many radioactive risks involved. It was no surprise to hear Premier Campbell Newman admitting no research or modelling had been done before overturning the ban.
Given the extensive history of over 150 recorded mishaps at the Ranger uranium mine in the Northern Territory, why would our state allow a uranium mine located in our tropical climate prone to heavy summer rainfall and cyclones from the Coral Sea and the Gulf?
The four main Queensland uranium deposits likely to be mined are all at risk of extreme weather events as Cyclone Yasi showed. The highest grade uranium deposit is located only 50 kilometres from Townsville at Ben Lomond and substantial deposits are located near Georgetown, Mount Isa and Westmoreland, on the NT border near the Gulf.
Given the vast amounts of radioactive sludge (or 'tailings') involved in uranium mining, the impact of inevitable extreme weather events slamming into mine sites with many hectares of tailings risks radioactive sludge spreading over vast distances in our state.
That's not a risk worth taking for existing industries in north and north-west Queensland let alone residents.
http://m.smh.com.au/comment/independent-inquiry-needed-into-uranium-mining-20131023-2w18g.html
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