Paul Vogel, chairman of the Western Australian Environment Protection Authority, has said that all new uranium mines seeking environmental approval under WA's new uranium mining regime will be subject to among the most stringent environmental assessments administered in the State.

Mr Vogel told uranium industry representatives at a recent Uranium Summit in Fremantle that they should not underestimate the community "outrage factor" concerning uranium projects.

The Australian Uranium Association agrees that in discussing uranium and nuclear energy, it is not always facts that hold sway. Many people have concerns, even fears, about all things uranium and nuclear. And while Mr Vogel is correct to point out that the "outrage factor" is something that industry and Government must take into account, it's reassuring that in environmental assessment and supervision of the uranium industry, science and fact are the overriding drivers of sound outcomes.

Elected Governments are there to manage and respond to community outrage.

• Email the Editor
• Email a Friend

Uranium companies in Western Australia briefed interested members of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder community last week about the nature and scope of their projects.

Toro Energy, Mega Uranium, Energy and Minerals Australia and BHP Billiton provided information and answered residents' questions at a public information event attended by about 150 people.

Residents were briefed by the WA Department of Mines and Petroleum and the WA Radiological Council on the regulatory framework for prospective uranium mines in the West.

The local newspaper quoted Kal residents who attended as saying the industry presence was "ground-breaking". The Kalgoorlie Miner's Adam Kolberg says there is a battle for the people's hearts and minds going on over uranium in the West.

He says: "the group who eventually wins the community's uranium vote could well be the side that best engages in guerrilla warfare - close, hand-to-hand contact and face-to-face communication".

While we might not agree it's a war, the uranium industry will certainly be keeping up the flow of information and the face-to-face communication effort with the people in the West.

• Email the Editor
• Email a Friend

Fairfax environment reporter Ben Cubby surprised and entertained us with his extraordinary tirade about the ultimate owner of the newly-approved Four Mile uranium mine.

In his piece for the Fairfax papers on Thursday 16 July, Ben gave us a strangely inaccurate description of the mining process as "acid corrosion" - it's actually called in-situ leach or solution recovery -  and darkly conspiratorial commentary about "colourful but reclusive billionaire" and "secretive arms tycoon" James Neal Blue.

Ben's piece is no doubt a piece of unwitting journalistic channelling, an incidence of random happenstance in which a  reporter, an editor and a publisher of a major metropolitan newspaper together unconsciously produce an article that exactly reflects the views of anonymous ideologues.

Probably inadvertently , the piece might create outrage about the Four Mile mine - and Environment Minister Peter Garrett for having approved it - by smearing the mine's ultimate owner.

Ben tells us that "Mr Blue once part-owned a cocoa and banana plantation in Nicaragua with the family of former president Anastasio Somoza". Mr Blue “refused to discuss any link to CIA operations in that country". (italics added)

Ben tells us that Jim Blue is a Director of the Four Mile majority owner, Quasar Resources, which is an affiliate of the US company General Atomics, chaired by Mr Blue, and which holds Pentagon contracts.

Are  you getting the picture now? The ultimate owner of a uranium mine in South Australia is associated with a company that does work for the Pentagon. Get it? Jim Blue is an American. Are you outraged yet? The company builds the Predator drone aircraft that the US uses to fight terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq. See what a patsy Peter Garrett is? How can you not see it? Jim Blue's brother Linden was briefly imprisoned by Fidel Castro. For apparently violating Cuban airspace. Surely you get it now!

Actually, I've got to admit I don't get it. If you do, perhaps you'll tell us why any of this stuff has anything to do with Minister Garrett's decision. Or Ben, why don’t you let us know what the heck this is all about.

• Email the Editor
• Email a Friend

A remarkable fact cited by ANSTO Chairman Dr Ziggy Switkowski is that of the world's 25 leading economies, only Australia either does not use or is not contemplating using nuclear energy as part of its long term energy strategy.

Dr Switkowski says Australia is overly reliant on unproved renewable and carbon capture and storage technologies for its long term energy planning. He says we are at risk of losing our comparative advantage in having access to abundant, low-cost energy sources if we do not quickly begin active consideration of development of a nuclear energy program.

He was speaking at a business lunch organised by the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia to discuss the need for expanded uranium mining and the establishment of a nuclear energy sector.

Dr Switkowski says we should be aiming to have 50 nuclear reactors operating by 2050, supplying ninety per cent of our electricity.

AUA Executive Director Michael Angwin, also speaking at the luncheon, said for those who were interested in developing a nuclear power sector here, the best place to start would be in overturning uranium mining bans in Queensland and the 'Cold War' legisation in New South Wales and Victoria that outlaws both uranium exploration and mining.

You can see a report of the discussion on ABCTV's Lateline Business program.

• Email the Editor
• Email a Friend

In taking on Paul Howes’ pro-nuclear speech last week, Jim Green, a Friend of the Earth, tries to discredit Howes' argument by noting that he quotes 'industry-funded' research by Professor Manfred Lenzen of Sydney University's Centre for Integrated Sustainability Analysis.   The fact the research was funded by the AUA is supposed to destroy its credibility.  What Jim doesn’t mention is that the Centre has also undertaken research for the Australian Conservation Foundation.   

In fact, the ACF's Don Henry liked Professor Lenzen’s Centre so much he has said this about it on the Centre's website:

I would like to particularly commend the Centre for Integrated Sustainability Analysis (ISA) at the University of Sydney for providing cutting-edge leadership in developing the economic and scientific tools and thinking that will drive a more sustainable future for Australia.

• Email the Editor
• Email a Friend