Seeking to entrench mining in the middle of the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary is NOT “seeking a balance”.

Sediment Trap at Mt Gee, Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary.

The Wilderness Society is shocked at the recent Rann Government decision to allow mining company Marathon Resources back into the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary.

Last year the Premier kicked the company out of the Sanctuary when it was discovered that they had illegally dumped a large volume of radio-active waste in a variety of locations.

Not only has the Government allowed the mining company back in, but they have released a document, currently open for public comment (urgent submission details below), titled “Seeking a Balance” which attempts to entrench mining in this special part of South Australia.

The Northern Territory Government would not mine Uluru, the Queensland Government would not mine the Great Barrier Reef, so why is the South Australian Government seeking to entrench mining in the middle of the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary?

This spectacular part of the Northern Flinders Ranges is one of our most significant conservation areas. It is an Environmental Class A Zone under the South Australian Development Act 1993, which means that the area has outstanding scenic and environmental values. Activities such as mining must be of paramount significance and in the national interest to proceed. 

Mt Gee, in the heart of the Sanctuary, is also a Geological Monument, listed on the Register for the National Estate.

The Class A Zoning needs to be recognised and the whole of the Arkaroola area (not just the Mawson Plateau as the document currently proposes) protected!

Take Action

Please hurry, submissions close on 29 January 2010. For details and more information on the Government’s proposal visit:
http://www.deh.sa.gov.au/biodiversity/ecosystem-conservation/nthn-flinders-project.html

For further information visit:
www.savearkaroola.com.au