Coal and uranium mining in the Kimberley
While many know about the gas hub proposed north of Broome there are plans for equally damaging coal and uranium mines inland.
Extensive coal and uranium tenements are being explored by Australia's Rey Resources in the West Kimberley. These proposed coal and uranium mines are on the traditional lands of the Nyikina-Mangala people adjacent to the Fitzroy River. The river is sacred and culturally significant to a number of traditional owners groups.
Rey Resources plans to establish large-scale coal mining operations in the area and in May 2009 announced their intention to commence pre-feasibility studies for development of the estimated 500 million tonne (Mt) Duchess- Paradise coal reserves in the Canning basin (see map).
Recently Rey Resources also entered into a joint venture partnership with Uranium Exploration Australia to confirm the extent of uranium resources at their Myroodah tenements which straddle the Fitzroy river.
Rey Resources propose to export 2 Mt per annum of thermal coal to India through the existing port in Derby. However a proposed coal terminal at Point Torment would enable exports to rise to 6 Mtpa in the medium term and 10Mtpa in the longer term. Rey Resources propose to mine the coal using both open cut surface mining and high wall mining. If allowed to proceed this mine would displace hundreds of millions of tonnes of soil and waste rock.
Even if the company backfills the open cut pits with waste rock, the potential for landscape collapse and alteration to groundwater flow patterns will still exist. Water extraction from the Fitzroy river is likely to skyrocket because coal mines are a massive user of water. Add to this the increase in dust, pollution, noise, and traffic along the Great Western highway, and the impact will be felt across the Kimberley region.
Uranium Mining
if that wasn’t concerning enough, the Rey Resources Joint venture propose to use the risky ‘acid leaching’ in situ mining process at their proposed uranium mine in Myroodah. The risk of groundwater contamination from the use of an acid leaching process is considerable and extremely worrying.
Nyikina-Mangala traditional owner and spokesperson Dr Anne Poelina says her people are very concerned about the environmental and social impact of both the coal and uranium proposals. “One of our major concerns is the potential for groundwater and river contamination which could have a devastating effect on rare and endangered species in the Fitzroy river like the freshwater sawfish. the Nyikina-Mangala people believe there is extensive scientific evidence that demonstrates the proposed mining is incompatible with the natural and cultural values of this part of the Kimberley”.
Traditional Owners call the Fitzroy river Mardoowarra. They are highly supportive of the Commonwealth Government’s assessment of the national heritage significance of the Kimberley that could see large areas, including the Fitzroy river, protected.
“Mardoowarra deserves national, and I believe World heritage listing, due to its outstanding cultural, historical and environmental vales’ said Dr Poelina. “We view these values as the basis of a truly sustainable local and regional economy that is based on culture and compatible with conservation based industries such as tourism, land management and indigenous arts. too often environmental values are overlooked in the face of resource proposals, but the environment has rights too and these rights need to be protected for the benefit and use of current and future generations of Australians, indigenous and non-indigenous” said Dr Poelina.
Traditional Owners want to see the coal and uranium stay in the ground, but there is already pressure from Rey Resources. The wishes of the Nyikina-Mangala traditional owners will only prevail if they are given broad support from the wider community. If we want to see a sustainable Australia and to save the beautiful Fitzroy river from an ugly fate now is an opportune time to support the Nyikina-Mangala traditional owners who want to protect culture and country.
