Friday 9 May 2008

Greens condemn wilderness mining penalty


Bags of waste were found in shallow trenches at the Mount Gee uranium site in the SA Flinders Ranges.

The Greens say Marathon Resources has only been given a slap on the wrist for breaching its uranium exploration licence at Mt Gee in a sensitive part of South Australia's Flinders Ranges.

The mining company was found to have incorrectly disposed of mining drill samples and rubbish in two large trenches in Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary.

A report tabled in the SA Parliament said the company had been told to clean up the unauthorised disposal sites.

MP Mark Parnell thinks more should be done.

"So far all the Government has said is that it's going to supervise the clean-up. That's just a slap on the wrist," he said.

"This company has behaved appallingly in an important wilderness sanctuary and the Government needs to throw them out and for good."

Mr Parnell had argued the company should lose its right to explore, while the Australian Conservation Foundation had accused the SA Government of being too close to the mining industry.

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