Tuesday 4 April 2006
ABC NT Country Hour
Report: Cameron Wilson

Australia has signed a nuclear safeguard agreement with China opening the way for future exports of uranium. This is expected to lead to more uranium exploration and heightens the likelihood of new mine development in the future. With much of this exploration, and possible development, sure to take place in the Northern Territory there will be implications for pastoralists. The competing nature for land between the mining and pastoral industries raises questions about how the two industries can easily co-exist, but based on pastoralists experiences, there is not too much reason for concern.

Roy Chisholm from Napperby station, about 150 kilometres north west of Alice Springs, has been dealing with uranium exploration on his station for the last 12 months, he says despite the new deal with China any problems will still be some time off. "I think there's a lot of political decisions have to be made before it's going to have a direct affect on us."

Max Lines is from the neighbouring Coniston, a station with a long history of exploration for gold and uranium. He is more concerned by the prospect of more exploration, "It would infringe on us that's for sure ...road use, then in the event of a mine there would be non-access ...they'd be issues there, all right." The decision comes at a time when the Territory is already in the midst of booming exploration.

Director of the Northern Territory Geological Survey Richard Brescianini says communication is the key to good relationships between pastoralists and miners during this period of activity. "I guess it's how you communicate with the pastoralists on these types of issues," he said. " Some would definitely see it as a threat, it's a threat to their way of life."

But far from struggling to co-exist, John Thevissen from Mincor Resources says the two industries can complement each other. "We create new infrastructure for them and quite often drill new water bores for them so I think it's a, sort of, symbiotic relationship if you like."