Tuesday, 26 September, 2006

ABC NT Local News

The Alice Springs Town Council has received a petition supported by more than 70 local businesses to declare the town a nuclear-free zone.

The full council met for the first time last night in its new chambers.

The Arid Lands Environment Centre presented the petition of more than 1,100 signatures to the council.

The centre's Nat Wasley urged aldermen to join others, including their Marrickville council counterparts in Sydney, in declaring the town nuclear free.

She said it was not legally binding and would not affect materials needed for medical purposes, but would send a symbolic message to the Federal Government that the region is not willing to accept a nuclear waste facility.

Council has referred the petition to the corporate and community services committee.