NT 'ignored community over uranium project'

ABC NT Local News

An Alice Springs environment group say the Northern Territory Government has ignored community opposition to uranium exploration south of the town.

The Government has granted a mining joint venture an exploration licence for the Angela and Pamela deposits 25 kilometres from the town.

The companies plan to begin drilling next year once they get the necessary sacred sites and environmental approvals.

But Natalie Wasley, from the Arid Lands Environment Centre, says the Government should have blocked the application on behalf of the community.

"The Territory Government seems to have completely disregarded the opposition they've hit at every stage of this process so far," she said.

"So I would encourage all of the Territory Government ministers and members to come along to any public events that are held in the near future and actually genuinely listen to people and their opinions on this."

Ms Wasley says that process will involve risks to the area's ecosystem.

"At exploration stage there is still potential for contamination because we are dealing with a radioactive substance," she said.


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