Following news of Tuesday's train derailment and subsequent fire near Katherine, Greens Alderman Jane Clark has called for environmental impact studies on uranium exploration and mining projects to include the implications of spills and hazards caused by transportation of radioactive substances through the Territory.

"With BHP's intention to send one uranium train EVERY day of the year from one end of the Territory to the other, through Alice Springs, right up to Port Darwin, news of derailments makes me very nervous.  These trains will be carrying radioactive uranium oxide across the entire NT. Once mining commences the complexities of transport, handling and spillage come into play.  For this reason environmental impact studies need to be stringent, independent and comprehensive."
 
"What if the train had derailed in the Gap? The railline comes within 100 metres of the Alice Springs CBD. The risk of derailments on the railway line and resultant fires and bushfires is serious and more than probable. No amount of spin can push this risk aside."
 
"After 4 months Alice Springs Town Council is still awaiting a reply from the mines minister regarding water quality and protection of our air from the Angela Pamela Exploration and Mining project.  We should also call on the NT government for information about the safeguards being considered against transportation hazards and spills and I will ask ASTC to request thorough responses from the NTG on these issues."