Muckaty Station nominated for Commonwealth radioactive waste repository
Friday, 25 May, 2007
NLC
“Agreement has been reached with the Ngapa traditional owners regarding a site on their country, with road access from the Stuart Highway along an existing mining road,” Mr Daly said.
“In return traditional owners will benefit from a comprehensive $12 million package comprised by an $11 million charitable trust and $1 million of education scholarships.”
“The trust fund will be managed by a professional company, and will deliver long term benefits to current and future generations including housing, transport, education and culture,” Mr Daly said.
“This landmark decision completes comprehensive consultations conducted by the NLC and Commonwealth representatives during 2006 and 2007, which included three visits by groups of traditional owners to the nuclear research reactor at Lucas Heights in Sydney.”
“Another site on Muckaty Station will not proceed given concerns by other groups of traditional owners including as to sacred sites. The agreement does not include access to the railway, which in future will only occur through negotiations on a case by case basis, Mr Daly said.
The nomination was made under the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act 2005, by the NLC's Full Council at a meeting at Gulkula near Nhulunbuy in Arnhem Land.
The Act was amended in 2005 and 2006 at the NLC's request to enable traditional owners to nominate their land for a repository and empowered the Minister to restore land as Aboriginal land when the repository has closed and is safe.
"This is a national interest outcome which benefits all Australians," Mr Daly said.
"Every Australian directly benefits from radiological medical treatment and cutting edge technology produced at Lucas Heights, and thus is responsible for creating small amounts of radioactive waste."
"This national responsibility was ignored by the Northern Territory Chief Minister, Clare Martin, in favour of short term political gain," Mr Daly said.
"In ignoring the public interest the Chief Minister has misled and failed Territorians, and she has also failed Aboriginal groups in remote Australia who benefit from development and employment opportunities on their country."
"The Chief Minister's dismal failure of leadership is irresponsible and hypocritical, since she is well aware that a repository can be safely constructed in many parts of the Northern Territory and that transport of waste is also safe," Mr Daly said.
A statement by senior Ngapa elder Amy Lauder is attached.
STATEMENT BY SENIOR NGAPA ELDER AMY LAUDER
NOMINATION OF LAND AT MUCKATY STATION FOR COMMONWEALTH RADIOACTIVE WASTE REPOSITORY
25 May 2007
I AM A SENIOR ELDER OF THE NGAPA CLAN.
MY COUNTRY IS ON MUCKATY STATION.
WE WON OUR CLAIM BEFORE THE JUDGE IN 1995, AND ONLY THE NGAPA CLAN CAN MAKE DECISIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT ON OUR COUNTRY.
OTHER CLANS CAN SPEAK FOR THEIR COUNTRY – NOT OUR NGAPA COUNTRY.
WE HAVE MADE THIS DECISION FOR THREE REASONS.
FIRST, WE WANT TO CREATE A FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN WITH EDUCATION, JOBS AND FUNDS FOR OUR OUTSTATION AT MUCKATY STATION AND TRANSPORT.
SECONDLY, WE HAVE BEEN TO LUCAS HEIGHTS AND ACCEPT THAT THE WASTE FACILITY WILL BE SAFE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
THIRDLY, OUR DECISION WILL HELP ALL PEOPLE IN AUSTRALIA – BECAUSE ALL AUSTRALIANS BENEFIT FROM NUCLEAR MEDICINE WHICH SAVES LIVES.