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Local Government calls for a rethink on NT dump sites

Alderman Kerry Moir, President of the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory (LGANT) called on the Commonwealth Government to have a re-think before advancing any further on the three proposed sites in the Northern Territory.

“From the available evidence the three sites have been chosen because they are easy sites for the Commonwealth Government to implement, not because they are the best sites technically, environmentally or from a transport and security standpoint”, said Alderman Moir.

“For example the Katherine Town Council is very concerned about the Fishers Ridge site which is 42 kms south of Katherine and from what I’ve been told it sits on top of unstable laterite directly above an aquifer that supplies water to a number of Aboriginal communities in the area”, Alderman Moir said.

“LGANT supports a national approach to minimise risks associated with the production, storage, transport and disposal of scheduled wastes, but I believe the decision to select the three sites have been made in a rush for political convenience”, said Alderman Moir.

Alderman Moir said that before making any decision on proposed sites the Commonwealth Government should consult with the Northern Territory Government and respect the views of local communities.

“If the best site from a technical and environmental aspect is outside of the Northern Territory then that’s where it should be”, said Alderman Moir, “not just dumped on the

Northern Territory”.

“It should be noted that this is primarily a dump for the Commonwealth to locate the

waste coming back from the UK and France and from Lucas Heights. The Commonwealth needs to find a site before it will be issued with a licence to build a new

reactor at Lucas Heights” Alderman Moir stated.

“Not only could the overseas waste enter the territory through Darwin Harbour,

LucasHeights waste would come through Rural NSW and if states and territories

decide to co locate the waste currently stored in their state or territory with

the Commonwealth facility, the NT could have waste entering its borders from the

four corners of Australia!

The people of Australia and the NT in particular should understand that the NT

has a right to expect to be consulted and properly informed of the Commonwealth

plans and their implications”, Alderman Moir concluded.

Ends 21 July 2005

Contact:

LGANT President Alderman Kerry Moir 0419 303 378

Manager Communications Phil Maynard8936 2890 0429 090 833