Following the website announcement by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) that Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) has won tender to assess the three proposed NT nuclear waste dump sites, environment and community groups in Alice Springs, Katherine and Darwin
have united in their opposition to a Commonwealth dump anywhere in the Northern Territory.

"If Parsons Brinckerhoff do their job properly, they will conclude that
none of the proposed sites are suitable for a nuclear waste dump. The sites were chosen for political reasons as opposed to scientific criteria, and there is very strong community opposition throughout the whole Territory." stated Vina Hornsby from Katherine No Dump Action Group.

Nat Wasley, Beyond Nuclear Campaigner at the Arid Lands Environment Centre, Alice Springs, added, "In their Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed South Australian dump in 2003, PB failed to convince Australians that the dump was a safe and necessary project. Communities want radioactive waste to be responsibly managed."

"We do not believe the NT dump proposal, which involves transporting waste thousands of kilometres and dumping it in the desert, can possibly fit PB's own environmental criteria of 'safe and responsible disposal of wastes'."

Environment Centre of the NT Coordinator Peter Robertson said, "As Parsons Brinckerhoff also conduct community consultation for projects, the NT opposition groups are demanding that the site assessment process begins with in-depth community consultation."

"International best practice demands that communities be given the
opportunity to shape all stages of a process such as this, and
ultimately have the right to reject such a proposal. If the
Commonwealth thinks a dodgy assessment process with no meaningful consultation will get them their waste dump, they are wrong."

Contacts:

Alice Springs Beyond Nuclear Initiative / Alice Action -
Nat Wasley 0429 900 774

Katherine No Dump Action Group –
Vina Hornsby 08) 8972 3797

Darwin No Waste Alliance –
Justin Tutty 08) 8945 6810

Environment Centre of the NT-
Peter Robertson 08) 8981 1984 / 0409 089 020