Thursday, 30 November, 2006

by Tara Ravens
NT News

A FEDERAL Government plan to impose a nuclear waste facility on the Territory was yesterday slammed by Aboriginal elders, pastoralists, environmentalists and the NT Government.

Amendments to the Commonwealth Waste Management Act were passed in the House of Representatives, paving the way for a depository at one of four NT sites.

The amendments attempt to prevent legal challenges to a deal being brokered by the Northern Land Council (NLC) to build the facility at the indigenous-owned Muckaty Station, near Tennant Creek.

Solomon MHR Dave Tollner said the amendments were made after consulting the NLC.

"The concern was that after a decision to build the waste facility was made, someone purporting to be a traditional owner would object and hold up the process for years," Mr Tollner said.

Muckaty traditional owner Dianne Stokes said only five of 16 clans had been consulted by the NLC.

"I don't know who the NLC was talking to, I have never seen the NLC talk to any of these other groups or families."

Dave Sweeney, from the Australian Conservation Foundation, said the legislation contradicted the statutory obligations of land councils, which were required to consult the communities before making decisions. "It is not ethically acceptable to impose a radioactive waste facility on an unwilling community," he said.

The other potential sites for the waste depository are Fishers Ridge, near Katherine, and Harts Range and Mt Everard in Central Australia.

Fishers Ridge pastoralist Valerie Utley said the area was a high-flood zone and unsuitable.

"It's just disastrous when you think of the site environmentally because there is such a large area that depends on this drainage system and it floods every year. It would be the most unstable place in the world."

Minister for Central Australia Elliot McAdam said the rights of Territorians had been taken away.