Wednesday, 7 March, 2007

by Nigel Adlam
NT News

THE Northern Land Council is expected to soon name at least two potential sites for a nuclear waste facility.

As forecast in the Northern Territory News several months ago, a favoured site will be Muckaty Station, north of Tennant Creek.

But there is also a second site near Nhulunbuy.

A source told the Northern Territory News: "The land council has tried to negotiate in secret because it wanted to talk calmly to traditional owners without greenies getting involved."

Labor Federal MPs Warren Snowdon and Trish Crossin last night said an announcement on the Federal Government's choice for the site was "imminent".

But the source said it would be months before Canberra made a decision.

"The land council will name possible sites and environmental assessments and consultation will then get underway."

Mr Snowdon and Senator Crossin said Aboriginal-owned Muckaty would be chosen -- and this was "another sorry chapter in (the whole) process".

They said an ALP federal government would not "arbitrarily impose" a nuclear waste facility on any community.

CLP Senator Nigel Scullion was at a bush community yesterday and could not be contacted.

But Solomon MHR Dave Tollner said the process for choosing a site had been fair and was continuing.

He said the wishes of traditional owners needed to be respected.

The land council has called a meeting at Muckaty for tomorrow morning to discuss the nuclear waste facility proposal.

Environmentalists last night accused the land council of not publicising the meeting properly.

Natalie Wasley, from the Arid Lands Environment Centre, said: "There is clear and demonstrated community concern over the dump plan and the dump process among many traditional owners.

"The process has been secretive, rushed and deeply flawed. Every voice must be heard."

The land council said it was legally obliged to consult all traditional owners.

It has described those opposing the Muckaty deal as "dissidents".