The Environment Centre of the NT has today called on Energy Resources of Australia to stop risking the World Heritage listed Kakadu region at the embattled miner’s annual meeting at Darwin Casino.

Environmentalists are calling for ERA to scrap expansion plans at their under-performing and leaking uranium mine in Kakadu, including plans for a polluting acid based processing method not used at monsoonal uranium mines anywhere in the world. 

Environmentalists will highlight their message with a protest presence at the venue and campaigners questioning the ERA board inside the meeting.

“The Ranger uranium mine is becoming an increasingly unmanageable operation,” said ECNT campaigner Cat Beaton. “It’s time for ERA to shut up shop and begin a staged rehabilitation and exit”.

ERA was forced to cease milling operations in late January due to heavy rains and threat of a radioactive overflow into Kakadu National Park. Milling operations at Ranger remain suspended.

ERA are facing increasing stakeholder and market criticism over their poor water and waste management and plans to push ahead with an acid heap leach facility despite being unable to manage existing infrastructure and impacts.

“With it’s long history of unsatisfactory processes and impacts and an increase in unpredictable weather conditions there is no way that Ranger mine should be allowed to expand’, stated Ms Beaton.

 

What: ERA Annual General Meeting: highly visual protest presence and company questioning

Where: In front of the Sky City Casino, Darwin

When: Wednesday April 13, 2011

Protest presence from: 8am – 11.30am (ERA meeting begins at 10am- 11am)