Media Release
7 February 2011
The Wilderness Society (South Australia) Inc
Arkaroola is ours to enjoy, Mr Rann - not yours to dig up!
82% of people opposed any form of mining in Arkaroola as outlined in the Government’s own ‘Seeking a Balance’ enquiry report, a report that the Government subsequently ‘binned’, according to Environmental Scientist, Matt Turner of The Wilderness Society.
“With a total disregard for South Australians’ wishes, the Government has given previously disgraced miner Marathon Resources permission to go back into Arkaroola, a decision they held back and only announced in the week before Christmas,” Mr Turner said.
”We are staging a community protest on the steps of Parliament House to show that this contemptuous decision by the Rann Government has not gone unnoticed,” he said.
”South Australians have made it clear that despoiling an iconic wilderness, mining a unique geological monument and harming a successful tourism business borders on vandalism.
“Tomorrow, Mr Rann has the opportunity to do a great thing for our State and for all South Australians.
“It is in the national and state interest for the Government to protect Arkaroola,” Mr Turner said.
Media Brief
Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary under mining threat
In 2007, Adelaide-based mining company Marathon Resources had its exploration licence suspended after illegally dumping 22,800 bags of radioactive waste in Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary and stealing Fluorite from a site classified as a geological monument.
Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary has been widely recognised as an iconic and unique location.
It is:
- on the Register of the National Estate
- a recognised geological monument
- a Sanctuary under the National Parks and Wildlife Act
- an Environmental Class A zone under the Development Act.
The Sprigg family have owned and run a successful eco-tourism operation at Arkaroola for many years. Any moves to allow mining in this area belittles and threatens their enterprise.
Some places are too precious to mine - Arkaroola is one of them.
The Government’s decision a week before Christmas to allow Marathon Resources back into Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary to explore for uranium shows a total disregard of community opinion.
The Rann Government made its announcement in such a way to go “under the radar”. Today’s community action has been called to highlight that this decision has not gone unnoticed. The recent announcement opens the door for environmental destruction on a massive scale.
In October 2009, the Rann Government released a draft management Plan for the Northern Flinders Ranges, entitled Seeking a Balance - conservation and resource use in the Northern Flinders Range. The Plan was drafted in response to the conflict over mining in Arkaroola. However, opponents point out that the Plan allows for mining activity right in the heart of the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary.
In public submissions to the report, 82% of people opposed any form of mining in Arkaroola. The breadth of submission was significant, with academic, business and scientific communities all represented. However, this report was ‘binned’ and the Government is yet to announce its intentions for the area.
- It is in the national and state interest that the Government makes the positive move of protecting Arkaroola.
- Despoiling an iconic wilderness, unique geological monument and a successful tourism business borders on environmental vandalism.
- Letting discredited Marathon back into Arkaroola is irresponsible.
- Allowing further mining exploration activities to take place within the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary disregards the community’s wishes.
