Saturday, 26 May, 2007

ABC NT Local News

The Northern Land Council says it will soon meet with mining giant Rio Tinto to discuss a possible uranium mine at Jabiluka, in the Northern Territory.

NT Mines Minister Chris Natt has already stated he will not interfere in negotiations between Rio Tinto and traditional owners.

This week, traditional owners said they would reject any proposal to mine the site, which is surrounded by Kakadu National Park.

But Rio Tinto's hopes have been reignited by yesterday's announcement that 70 Ngapa traditional owners agreed to nominate Muckaty Station, 120 kilometres north of Tennant Creek, as a site for Australia's first nuclear waste dump site.

Chief executive of the Northern Land Council, Norman Fry, says he will sit down with Rio Tinto and the Mirrar people to see if there is any possibility of the parties reaching a deal.

Mr Fry says the matter is not closed.

"There is a care and maintenance agreement that's in place. It will require the agreement of the traditional owners, the Mirrar, and that's where it's at currently," he said.

"We will be sitting down with Rio Tinto and the Mirrar in the not to distant future and that particular issue will be fleshed out."