Tuesday, 13 February, 2007

ABC NT Local News

An Alice Springs Council committee has voted down a recommendation to declare the town a nuclear-free zone.

Almost 100 people squeezed into the Council chambers to lobby last night's meeting to make the declaration as a symbolic gesture, after earlier holding up banners pleading for a solar, not nuclear, city.

They called out "shame" and "spineless" as the motion from Alderman Meredith Campbell was voted down 5-4.

Mayor Fran Kilgariff says some aldermen felt they could not support the declaration because it did not reflect the whole community's view and it would have no legal effect.

"I am happy - I didn't vote for this," she said.

"It's not something that I wanted to see, perhaps putting a brake on exploration or mining activity and henceforth business in Alice Springs, so from my point of view this outcome is good."

Anti-nuclear campaigner Lenny Aronsten says many aldermen were concerned they did not have enough information about nuclear technology.

"A few people did express that they were open to learning and they're open to listening to the debate. That is positive," he said.

"I'm certainly disappointed. I didn't think it was a done deal or anything but I'm certainly disappointed in the outcome, there's no doubt about that."

Mr Aronsten says he fears the implications for nuclear industries and waste in the Northern Territory.

"My concern both as a citizen and as a health professional is that this is an enormous public health issue," he said.

"We cannot rush into this and one might say that it's not terra nullius we're talking about, it's cerebra nullius we're talking about, as far as Canberra is concerned."